N.Z. raw materials important to Japan

Press, 29 August 1980, Page 12

N.Z. raw materials important to Japan

NZPA correspondent Hong Kong

The importance of New Zealand and Australia as suppliers of raw materials to Japan is emphasised in the latest White Paper on Defence issued in Tokyo. . ; The report, prepared by the Japanese Defence Agency, says-New Zealand and Australia, which supply Japan with many materials, are stable Powers, in terms of security,' as members of.the Western world. • ’ ‘We must not forget that they are important to Japan, which is highly dependent upon the importation of raw materials,” the paper says. The report is the most forthright of six White Papers issued in the last decade in emphasising the potential threat to Japan’s security posed by Soviet

military expansionism in the Far East.

It says the Soviet Union’s military build-up has made it essential for Japan to improve its defence capabilities, in line with the explicit demand of the United States. Expansion r* the Soviet Pacific fleet and deployment of backfire bombers and mobile medium range SS-20 missiles are cited as increasing the military capability of the Soviet Far East forces. ’. -..

’ .The paper says the Soviet ' build-up, and great activity in the Far East, are threatening the balance 1 of . power in the western Pacific. Japan is being asked by the United States and other western countries to assume a defence role commensurate with its economic strength. The report makes clear weaknesses in Japan’s defences. It says modern-

isation of tanks, artillery, anti-tank, and anti-aircraft weapons is essential if the ground self-defence forces (the Army) are to deal with an aggression for a relatively long period of time.

Japan’s navy is illequipped to deal with nuclear submarines, and its ships have insufficient anti-aircraft fire-power, the report says. Anti-mine vessels are insufficient to deal with the latest advances in mine, warfare.

But the report does say destroyers are being equipped with anti-aircraft missiles and that steps are being taken - to modernise early warning aircraft and interceptor fighter squadrons. ■ .

It makes clear the main thrust of Japan’s defence improvement will involve an improvement of antisubmarine capacity and mining capability.