Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the eighth meeting of the Strategic Headquarters for Space Development at the Prime Minister's Office.

At the meeting, progress in discussions at the Committee on the National Space Policy and future space strategy investigation objectives, among other topics, were discussed. 

Based on the discussions, the Prime Minister said,

“Following the formulation of the previous Basic Plan for Space Policy, the diplomatic and security environment surrounding Japan has been evolving rapidly, and the importance of space to Japan’s security is dramatically increasing.

Meanwhile, the industrial foundation for undertaking space development and independently applying the technology is becoming unstable due to space-related companies withdrawing from the field, and declines in personnel numbers among other factors. Restoring and strengthening that foundation is an urgent challenge.

The new Basic Plan for Space Policy will be formulated based on this situation. The plan will be a 10-year, long-term improvement plan, in order for it to fully reflect the Abe Administration’s new security policy, and to heighten investment predictability and strengthen the foundation of the space industry. Additionally, I want to make it clear that this plan will be prioritized as much as possible in light of strict fiscal constraint.

I would like you to coordinate with the relevant ministers, with Minister Yamaguchi playing a central role, and formulate the new Basic Plan by the end of the year.”