Business Deal on Aegis Ashore

Donald Trump administration of United States looks like dealing North Korean issue with business deals. Ministers and Secretaries on Foreign Affairs and Defense of Japan and U.S. had a meeting, called two plus two, in Washington, D.C. on Thursday. The leaders agreed on putting further pressure on North Korea and enhancing defensive cooperation of the both. Accepting offer from U.S., Japan decided to purchase ground-based anti-ballistic missile system, Aegis Ashore, to protect Japanese homeland. But, North Korea says that the main target is not Japan but Guam.

It was the first time for both government to have that meeting these two years and four months. With reshuffling of Shinzo Abe Cabinet, the posts were replaced by Minister for Foreign Affairs, Taro Kono, and Minister of Defense, Itsunori Onodera. From U.S. attended Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, and Secretary of Defense, James Mattis. All the members of the 2+2 were freshmen.

Four leaders reconfirmed that Japan-U.S. alliance including nuclear capability of U.S. contributed safety of Japan. They denounced North Korea with the strongest expression, stressing their enhancement of capability of the alliance to deter and deal with the threat. They agreed on putting pressure on North Korea for stopping development of missile and nuclear weapons with their effort to cooperate with other nations, urging China decisive measures to let the North reconsider their past behavior. To China, both governments expressed concern on the advance in South and East China Sea and reconfirmed application of Article 5 of Japan-U.S. Security Treaty on Senkaku Islands, which included U.S. obligation of protecting Japan.

The joint statement required Japan to expand its role in the alliance and enhancement of defensive capability of Japan. Japan promised to purchase Aegis Ashore from U.S. Japan has deployed SM3 anti-ballistic missile system to counter missile attack on Japan in the terminal phase of the orbit. Aegis Ashore is expected to shoot the missile down in outer space. Ignoring the negative effect of anti-ballistic missile system that would rather cause instability of nuclear deterrence, the Japanese are heavily depending on Aegis system in their mind.

It is supposed that Japan needs two sets of Aegis Ashore, each of which costs ¥80 billion. Ministry of Defense required budget for the military equipment without actual price, because they could not determined total cost for it. Intimidated by North Korea with consecutive missile launch and possible nuclear test, Japan easily accepted U.S. “Buy America” strategy.