#Japan to Develop Space Defense Guidelines#【Japan’s First Space Defense Guideline Paints China and Russia as Threats】#Japan Claims China and Russia are Developing Killer Satellites# According to reports from Kyodo News and Yomiuri Shimbun on the 29th, Japan’s Ministry of Defense announced the first space defense guideline aimed at strengthening its space defense capabilities on the 28th. The guideline claims that China and Russia are developing killer satellites that could attack other countries’ man-made satellites, stating, “Space is becoming a battlefield, and threats and risks are expanding,” leading Japan to also need to enhance its space defense capabilities. In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated on the 29th that China firmly opposes Japan using the hype of other countries’ threats to create excuses for its own military development.
Japanese media report that the guideline aims to direct civilian technology applications to enhance defense capabilities through public-private cooperation in building a security system for the space domain. The guideline claims that countries including China and Russia are actively advancing the research and development of “anti-satellite weapons,” “sounding the alarm bell for the intensification of space militarization.” The guideline proposes that Japan will construct satellite communication networks capable of withstanding communication interference, and promote the mutual use of satellite communications between allies and countries with shared interests.
According to Kyodo News, the Ministry of Defense plans to develop “protective satellites” to protect its man-made satellites from attacks by killer satellites, with tests expected to begin by 2029; to track Japanese naval vessels and troops, a large number of small satellites will be deployed in a coordinated operation. Additionally, for the high-speed weapons developed by China and Russia, trials will be conducted on related tracking and detection technologies.
“China has always adhered to the peaceful use of outer space, opposed the arms race in outer space and weaponization, actively promoted negotiations on international space law documents, and advocated for the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind in the field of outer space,” said Guo Jiaqin, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, on the 29th. In recent years, Japan’s military spending has increased year after year, moving further down the path of military expansion.
在外空领域，日本与美国等西方国家持续拓展外空军事合作，打着“防御”旗号谋求发展和部署外空武器。这些举措威胁外空安全与稳定，引发周边国家对军国主义死灰复燃的担忧。
另据共同社29日引述多名日本政府相关人士的消息称，日本计划将其首款国产长射程导弹12式陆基反舰导弹的性能提升型首批部署在陆上自卫队健军驻地（熊本市），预计部署时间为2025年末，日本将由此拥有反击能力（对敌基地攻击能力）。此外，日本还计划在明年春天后将其部署在大分县，并考虑未来部署在冲绳县。报道称，此举意在“制衡在南西诸岛周边加强军事施压的中国”。
中国国际问题研究院亚太所特聘研究员项昊宇29日对《环球时报》表示，日本目前出台的一些举措，均服务于其防卫政策“由守转攻”，反映出日本整个国家安全战略和对外政策思维的一种危险变化。日本发展“反击能力”，就是把其所谓的假想场景作为强军扩武的借口，通过煽动紧张局势，为其发展进攻性武器装备制造正当性。
郭嘉昆强调，今年是中国人民抗日战争暨世界反法西斯战争胜利80周年，“我们敦促日方深刻反省历史罪责，认真汲取历史教训，停止靠渲染‘周边紧张局势’、炒作涉华话题掩盖自身扩军强武的真实意图，以实际行动取信于亚洲邻国和国际社会”。