Arab News Japan

TOKYO: The Japanese government said it welcomes and supports the US’ announcement not to conduct destructive, direct-ascent anti-satellite (DA-ASAT) missile testing and said it is a positive step towards formulating norms of responsible behavior in outer space. 

“The Government of Japan, in cooperation with like-minded countries including the United States, will continue to actively promote the discussions in the international arena concerning the establishment of norms of responsible behavior in outer space,” an official statement issued by the foreign ministry in Tokyo said.

The US became the first country to adopt a voluntary moratorium on the destructive testing of direct-ascent anti-satellite missile systems.

According to Carnegie Endowment, these weapons generally involve missiles that launch from the Earth’s surface to destroy a satellite passing overhead. The testing of these weapons—conducted in recent years by China, India, Russia, and the United States—creates debris that can remain in low Earth orbit for years, if not decades, threatening other satellites.