Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda indicated that Japan may resort to using military force to defend its territory, including the disputed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.
"In case a neighboring country engages in illegal acts on our territorial soil and in our territorial waters, including the Senkaku Islands, we will react resolutely, including the possible use of the Self-Defense Forces as the need arises," Noda told a plenary session of the Lower House on July 26.
Noda made the remark after Daizo Kusuda, a lawmaker from the ruling Democratic Party of Japan, asked him about how the SDF and the government would respond if China were to trespass illegally onto the Senkaku Islands.
Three Chinese fishery patrol ships entered Japan's territorial waters around the uninhabited islands on July 11. One of them did so again a day later.
"It is essential to establish a crisis management system to forestall the occurrence of such an event," Noda added. "That includes thorough diplomatic efforts."
Noda also emphasized the significance of having the United States deploy its MV-22 Osprey transport aircraft in Japan. Twelve Osprey aircraft arrived at the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture on July 23, ahead of their planned deployment to the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, in September.
"Their deployment to Okinawa will help enhance the Japan-U.S. alliance's deterrence in the Asia-Pacific region and is extremely important to Japan's security," Noda said.
Noda also said he will confirm the safety of the tiltrotor vertical takeoff and landing aircraft's safety before they begin flying over Japan.
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