Japan Postpones Soil Surveys for Aegis Ashore Deployment

July 26, 2018

Tokyo- The Defense Ministry said Wednesday that it has postponed the bidding to select companies that will conduct geological and water surveys needed for the planned deployment in Japan of the Aegis Ashore land-based missile defense system.

The northeastern city of Akita and the city of Hagi in the western prefecture of Yamaguchi, both candidate sites to host the missile shield, had called for putting off the surveys in response to strong opposition from local residents.

Local opposition to the deployment is strong partly because North Korea has halted nuclear and missile tests. Yamaguchi Governor Tsugumasa Muraoka issued a statement welcoming the ministry's decision.

At a press conference held before the ministry's announcement, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said it is important for the government to make efforts to win support and cooperation from the host candidates.

The government will carry out necessary procedures with care, while paying due heed to local requests, Suga said.

The bidding was announced on June 21 by the ministry's Tohoku Defense Bureau in the city of Sendai in northeastern Japan and its Chugoku-Shikoku Defense Bureau in the city of Hiroshima near Hagi.

The date to choose the winners has been changed to Sept. 12 from Aug. 2. The postponement was made because of the need to conduct more detailed surveys, the ministry said.

The ministry plans to deploy the Aegis Ashore missile interceptor to Ground Self-Defense Force training areas in Akita and Hagi in fiscal 2023, which ends in March 2024. Jiji Press