Military to use space programme

Japan's powerful lower house of parliament has voted to allow the country's space programmes to be used for national defence.

The move is the latest by Tokyo to give more freedom to the tightly controlled military.

The legislation, which is expected to be approved by the upper house as well, is primarily aimed at letting the military use Japan's civilian-controlled spy satellite network for defence as defined by the pacifist constitution.

"Space development has become increasingly important," the Bill says. It says space programmes must "contribute to ensure peace and safety of international society, as well as the national security of our country."

The Bill does not specify what the programmes will be used for, but the satellite network and other assets could be used for surveillance, planning and for a missile defence shield Japan is building with the US.

The Bill would overturn a ban on military use of space imposed on the country's nascent space programme in 1969. The US-drafted 1947 constitution prohibits Japan from offensive warfare.

The legislation stipulates that all members of the Cabinet, not just the education, science and technology ministers, will be responsible for Japan's future space projects. The inclusion of the defence minister would pave the way for the military to possess and develop spy satellites.

The legislation would also establish a special space task force led by the prime minister and create a new post of space development minister.

The Defence Agency was upgraded to ministry status in 2007, and Japanese troops were sent to a combat zone for the first time since the Second World War in 2004, although the mission in Iraq was strictly humanitarian.

Both the ruling coalition and the largest opposition party support the Bill. Some pacifist politicians from the Communist and Social Democratic parties boycotted Tuesday's vote, saying the Bill contradicted the principle of a civilian-controlled space programme.

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