The Japanese government has begun negotiating a change in the rules for the use of weapons by self-defense forces, which will allow them to shoot down balloons.
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Now the self-defense forces can use weapons to shoot down an object that violated the airspace, only as part of self-defense, namely if it poses a direct threat to the life of the population, when an emergency evacuation is necessary.
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“So far, cases of (penetration) of manned fighters have been envisaged, since their interception poses a direct threat to the life of the pilot, strict conditions have been introduced (for the use of weapons). In the case of an unmanned balloon, it may be considered that such (hard) conditions are not needed “, the source said.
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With regard to unmanned balloons, it may be considered possible to intercept them as a means of protecting the life and property of the public, as they may interfere with the safe flight of other aircraft.
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Earlier, former Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera, who chairs the defense committee in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party of Japan, called balloons of unknown origin that appeared three times in the sky over the country “a big hole in the defense” and also said that he would require an explanation from the government.
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Unidentified flying objects have been spotted over Japan three times: in November 2019 over Kagoshima Prefecture, in June 2020 over the city of Sendai, and in September 2021 over Aomori Prefecture. The Japanese Ministry of Defense believes that they are believed to be Chinese reconnaissance balloons.
