Japan ex-minister says drone video of carrier a serious problem

A file photo of a military ship docked in Japan. The drone footage incident comes at a time when Japan is trying to beef up its defences, including by increasing spending by 60% over five years. — Unsplash

Close-up footage of Japan’s flagship aircraft carrier taken by a drone in restricted airspace and reportedly circulated online constitutes a “serious security problem”, a former defense minister told reporters.

“Drones are not allowed to fly over Self-Defense Force bases, including this area,” Itsunori Onodera said in Tokyo on Thursday, adding that the images were captured despite the fact that the zone was meant to be closely monitored. “This is a serious security problem.”