Japan tightens security for G8 summit

TOKYO, July 5 (Xinhua) -- As the Group of Eight (G8) summit is to be held in northern Japan's Hokkaido early next week, the Japanese government has mobilized the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) and police troops to tighten terrestrial, marine and aerial security both in the capital of Tokyo and around the location of the summit.

Riot policeman stand guard while anti-G8 activists hold a demonstration in Sapporo, north Japan, July 5, 2008. About 5,000 people gathered here to protest against the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit scheduled from July 7 to 9. (Xinhua Photo)

Under the command of Japanese Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba, the Ground, Marine and Air SDF have adopted the first-class alert and are ready to "take all necessary actions."

The one-year old anti-terrorist central rapid-reaction force, which is the top elite force of the SDF and follows direct command of the defense minister, will be put into action for the first time. It is to closely cooperate with the Ground SDF to deal with all possible terrestrial terrorist attacks.

More than 20 helicopters have been in practice since mid-June for their mission to transport participating heads of states and government leaders from the New Chitose Airport, south of Hokkaido's provincial capital of Sapporo, to the summit venue of Windsor Hotel Toya at the top of a mountain besides the Toyako lake.

Troops for emergencies and possible bio-chemical attacks are also standing guard 24 hours around the clock. Being wary of missile attacks, the Marine SDF (MSDF) dispatched Aegis destroyers to waters around Hokkaido, whose air security is currently also under assistant protection of the Patriot Advanced Capacity-2 (PAC-2) facilities in nearby bases.

In the Uchiura Bay just south of the summit venue, missile-equipped MSDF vessels and frigates carrying helicopters have been in deployment.

At Chitose and Misawa bases, the Air SDF increased the number of fighter jets ready to take off at anytime and in all circumstances to be better prepared for dealing with suspicious airplanes and hijackings.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism have finalized their plan to impose no-fly zone around Windsor Hotel Toya during the summit.

Riot policeman stand guard while antiG8 activists hold a demonstration in Sapporo, north Japan, July 5, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)

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