LDP groups wants legislation considered to deal with ‘gray-zone’ situations around Senkakus

The Yomiuri Shimbun

12:13 JST, April 8, 2021

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party is calling for a stronger defense of the Senkaku Islands, with “legislation if necessary” to deal with “gray-zone” situations, in a proposal handed to Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Wednesday.

A gray-zone situation is one where it is difficult to judge whether an area is under attack.

The proposal also calls for strengthening cooperation between the Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Japan Coast Guard and increasing relevant equipment and personnel.

“We must eliminate any ill effects of bureaucratic sectionalism among ministries and agencies,” said Suga, who is also the president of the LDP.

Taku Otsuka, director of the Liberal Democratic Party’s National Defense Division, and Hiroshi Hiraguchi, director of the LDP’s Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Division, delivered the proposal.