Saturday, Sept. 22, 2007 (Compiled from Kyodo, AP)Just over 80 percent of respondents to a government survey released this week are worried about a potential military attack against Japan, reflecting concern over North Korea's nuclear program and China's military buildup.
Of the 80.2 percent, 34 percent said they are "seriously worried" about a military attack against Japan and 46.2 percent said they are "slightly worried," according to the Public Opinion Poll on Civil Protection released Thursday.
The Cabinet Office, which conducted the survey on 1,805 people age 20 or older from Aug. 2 to 12, did not expect such a high percentage of people to feel worried about a potential military attack against the country.
The survey also found 81.4 percent of respondents do not expect the central and local governments or other public entities to swiftly carry out measures to protect citizens in the event of a military or terrorist attack under the Civil Protection Law. It was the first time the government had conducted a poll of this kind.
The Cabinet Office conducted the survey to see how many of the public have become aware of the law since its enforcement in September 2004, according to the official.
But the poll showed 33.3 percent of the respondents did not know about the law, while 36.9 percent said they had heard about the law but did not know what it concerned.
The legislation, passed in June 2003 and last revised in December 2006, outlines measures to be taken in the event of an armed attack on Japan, including the issuing of warnings and how to manage the evacuation of danger spots.
The Japan Times: Saturday, Sept. 22, 2007
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