Aso calls for stronger security ties with U.S. in speech to SDF cadets

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TOKYO, March 22 Kyodo -
Prime Minister Taro Aso on Sunday voiced the importance of Japan strengthening
its security alliance with the United States as well as upgrading its own
security platform, citing North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs
as major challenges to security in the Asia-Pacific region.
At a graduation ceremony for the National Defense Academy in Yokosuka, Kanagawa
Prefecture, Aso addressed Self-Defense Forces cadets, saying, ''It's extremely
important to further strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance while making efforts to
boost our own defense capabilities in order to secure Japan's peace and
stability.''
Referring to an antipiracy mission off Somalia by Maritime Self-Defense Force's
destroyers, and supply-ship involvement in U.S.-led antiterrorism operations in
the Indian Ocean, Aso said the operations ''surely enhance the national
interests of Japan.''
Aso apparently asked the cadets to prevent a recurrence of incidents similar to
the case of a controversial essay written by former Air-Self Defense Force
chief Gen. Toshio Tamogami, by saying, ''Please don't forget about the
principle of civilian control, which is a foundation of the SDF.''
Tamogami was dismissed as the ASDF chief of staff last October after writing an
essay justifying Japan's wartime military policy.
Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada, who also attended the ceremony, said, ''Our
country needs to provide personnel contributions in international efforts to
sustain peace and stability as a responsible member of the global community.''
In the audience were this year's 445 graduates, including 33 women and 14
students from overseas.
Of the graduates, 35 have declined to work in the SDF, the largest number in
nearly two decades. According to the academy, 14 said they have opted to work
at private-sector companies, while nine cited ''family reasons'' and six
pointed to their ''physical conditions'' as reasons for their decisions.
''It's not clear why this many graduates have opted not to join the SDF at a
time of economic downturn, and we don't know whether the scandal (involving
Tamogami) affected their decisions,'' one ranking academy officer said.
The highest number of academy graduates not joining the SDF was 94 in 1991 when
the Persian Gulf War broke out, followed by 59 in 1990 and 51 in 1989.
==Kyodo
2009-03-22 20:48:50