Japan bolsters security, anti-terrorism measures for G7 summit amid concerns about soft targets

Japan is beefing up security as it gears up to host the Group of Seven summit in Ise-Shima, central Japan, with the National Police Agency saying Thursday that 23,000 police officers will be dispatched to guard the venue of the summit that will kickoff next Thursday.

Almost 5,000 extra police officers will also be deployed to Hiroshima, the police agency said, as U.S. President Barack Obama will make an historic visit to the city that was obliterated by a U.S. atomic bomb during WWII, marking the first time a sitting president has visited the symbolic city.

The policy agency also said its personnel will be specifically deployed to the vicinity of the Shima Kanko Hotel, located on the northern shore of Kashikojima Island, which will serve as the main venue of the summit, as well as to locations in and around Chubu International Airport at which the leaders are expected to arrive.

According to local reports, the collective deployment of police and related personnel will mark the biggest-ever security operation for such a summit, with the numbers involved dwarfing that of the 2008 Hokkaido-Toyako summit, which was the last summit hosted by Japan and involved 21,000 officers.

Prior to that, Japan dispatched some 22,000 officers to guard a summit held in Okinawa Prefecture in 2000.

Japan's public broadcaster NHK said on Thursday that special assault units along with teams dedicated to intercepting drones and other such unmanned aerial vehicles will be deployed to the summit venue, and that the national coast guard will also be on high alert before, during and after the summit, to guard against possible terrorist attacks.

On a national level, and in light of the deadly terror attacks that occurred in both Paris and Brussels, the police are also bolstering their presence, security and anti-terrorist measures at notable landmarks and public places, such as theaters, sports arenas, shopping districts and major train stations.

The move comes amid criticism from international defense analysts that Japan, in what has been described as a "global era of terrorism", has viewed itself as exempt from threats, and, as such, may not have taken enough counter-terrorism measures to safeguard its numerous soft targets.

The leaders themselves at the conclusion of the summit are expected to announce a joint statement vowing to combat terrorism and extremism, coupled with an action plan outlining measures for countries to enhance cooperation and information-sharing and to better bridge dialogue and cultural barriers.

This will be one of six joint declarations slated to be issued at the Ise-Shima summit next week, by leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States and the European Union. The summit will be chaired by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Source: XINHUA