A bill to tighten restrictions on land transactions around Self-Defense Forces bases and other security-sensitive sites began debate in the Lower House plenary session on the 10th, as the government argued it can stop drones from being launched from nearby property.
Economic security minister Kimi Onoda told the chamber the measure can "prevent such land from being used as a base for drone attacks." The opposition countered that the criteria for approving or rejecting a deal are vague.
Opposition lawmakers raised concerns about arbitrary operation by the government and about limits on property rights guaranteed by the Constitution, Kyodo News reported.
What the bill would do
The amendment to the land use regulation law would designate areas within roughly 1,000 meters of facilities that drone attacks could seriously disable as "regulated zones." Uninhabited remote border islands would also be covered.
Land purchases in those zones would require prior government permission. Transfers of ownership to foreign governments or people connected to foreign militaries would in principle not be allowed.
Violations would carry a penalty of up to 3 years in prison or a fine of up to 3 million yen.