Japan will 'shoot down drones'

This announcement is just a reiteration of earlier statements, although it would appear that the policy has now been approved by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Defense Minister Onodera Itsunori.  While drones are praised for their ability to conduct military operations without risking the life of a pilot and crew, this ‘low-risk’ technology may increase risk in some cases.  Specifically, Chinese military leaders may be more willing to dispatch drones as a way of showcasing Chinese military power without risking the life of a pilot and potential backlash.  Likewise, it makes Japanese officials more likely to order that such craft be ‘shot down’, as the loss of an unmanned vehicle would provoke substantially less public outrage than the death of a fighter pilot.  Still, it makes these decisions much easier to make, and to a certain extent it harms the stability of the East Asian region by making Sino-Japanese brinksmanship more acceptable and ‘low-cost’.  Drones are undoubtedly a major breakthrough in military technology, and the way they will change both warfare and policymaking cannot be overlooked.

Japan states it can shoot down foreign drones that ‘invade its airspace’

Last updated: October 21^st, 2013 GMT 5:22 PM

The equipping of weapons of mass-destruction by drones is still a difficult problem, and such discussions are continuing.

According to Japanese media reports, the Japanese government has essentially decided on how it will handle drones that invade its airspace, stating that it will handle drones with measures as equally strong for those for manned vehicles that do not heed Japanese warnings, including shooting them down.

Jiji Press quoted government officials as stating that on the 11^th of this month, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe approved Defense Minister Onodera Itsunori’s plan for “How to respond to drones that invade Japanese airspace.”

Onodera Itsunori’s plan states that if “Foreign drones invade Japanese airspace and ignore Japanese warnings, Japan will handle drones with measures as equally strong as those for manned vehicles, including shooting them down.

The report stated that in September of this year, a Chinese drone entered Japanese air-defense perimeters, and proceeded to enter the airspace of the Senkaku Islands (known in China as the Diaoyu Islands).  Afterwards it flew towards China; Japan has yet to confirm that it was a military vehicle.

Japanese analysis holds that China is currently developing drones that are equipped with high-function cameras and radar, and can recognize warnings the way a manned vehicle can.

In response to Japan’s statement that it “would consider shooting down Chinese drones”, Chinese Defense Department spokesperson Geng Yansheng expressed on September 26^th that Japan has fabricated the premise for its statement; these statements are purposely provocative, and create a tense atmosphere.  

Jiji Press pointed out that the equipping of weapons of mass-destruction by drones is still a difficult problem, and such discussions are continuing.

Compiler/Editor: Lu Xi