Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Sanae Takaichi, a contender in the ruling party¡¯s Sept. 29 presidential election, said Sunday that it is ¡°absolutely necessary¡± for the United States to deploy ground-based intermediate-range missiles in Japan amid the growing security threat from China.
Speaking on a television program, the former internal affairs minister was the sole candidate to back the idea among the four contenders in the LDP race that will effectively determine the country¡¯s next prime minister.
¡°Deploying intermediate-range missiles is absolutely necessary to protect the lives and territory of the Japanese people,¡± she said, adding that as prime minister, she would proactively ask the U.S. to deploy the weapons to Japan.
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