(Provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only)
I have two announcements at the outset today. The first is about our response to the Kumamoto Earthquake. The Self-Defense Forces (SDF) is continuing operations with 5,100 personnel, the same as yesterday. I will begin with water supply support. Yesterday, water supply units mainly from the Western Army Artillery Regiment and the 42nd Rapid Deployment Regiment supplied approximately 280 tons of water to a total of around 140,000 people. Today, approximately 160 personnel and a total of 49 water tankers and water trailers are providing water at a total of 41 locations. Compared with yesterday, this is 17 more locations, approximately 40 more personnel, and 17 more vehicles. Yesterday, we completed the provision of approximately 100 tons of water to Kikuchi Medical Association Hospital and Matsuoka Internal Medicine Clinic, both of which requested assistance due to shortages of water required for dialysis. Water is also being supplied to Saiseikai Misumi Hospital, Kumamoto Rosai Hospital, and Yatsushiro Keijin Hospital in response to newly received requests. I would next like to share an update on bathing support. Bathing support units mainly from the Ground Self-Defense Force’s (GSDF) 8th Division are scheduled to begin providing bathing support at the Hinokimi Cultural Center in Kumamoto City by this evening. In addition, the Maritime Self-Defense Force’s large vessel JS ISE, carrying food, drinking water, and other daily necessities, is scheduled to arrive this morning. The supplies will then be transported by GSDF Osprey aircraft and Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopters to the GSDF’s Vice-Camp Takayubaru and other locations before being delivered to the affected people. That concludes my first opening remark.
The second announcement is about a live-fire test of a Tomahawk missile conducted by the destroyer JS CHOKAI. Yesterday, we announced that the destroyer JS CHOKAI conducted a live-fire test of a Tomahawk missile. I would like to take this opportunity to explain again the significance of this live-fire test. The Ministry of Defense and the SDF decided to introduce stand-off missiles in 2017. The National Defense Strategy formulated in 2022 also states that stand-off defense capabilities would be reinforced as one of the seven key capabilities. Among these capabilities, deliveries of the U.S.-made Tomahawk stand-off missile to the SDF have already begun. In order to equip the destroyer JS CHOKAI with the capability to launch Tomahawk missiles, the vessel underwent modifications and its crew received training in the U.S. from October of last year. These modifications and training were completed on March 27 of this year, giving the vessel the capability to launch Tomahawk missiles. On July 29, with support from the United States Navy, the destroyer JS CHOKAI conducted a live-fire test in the Pacific Ocean and confirmed that the vessel is capable of actually launching a Tomahawk missile, including the crew’s proficiency. I believe that the test demonstrated steady progress in the development of Japan’s stand-off defense capabilities and is highly significant. Reinforcing stand-off defense capabilities is necessary to protect the lives and peaceful livelihoods of Japanese people in the face of the most severe and complex security environment since the end of World War II. Japan’s defense capabilities, including stand-off missiles, remain the minimum necessary capabilities for self-defense that are exercised only if Japan comes under armed attack. They will not pose a threat to other countries. We will continue to further strengthen and transform our defense capabilities in order to protect the lives and peaceful livelihoods of Japanese people. That concludes my two opening remarks.