Tokyo: A debate over flying saucers has kept Japanese politicians occupied for much of this week, ensnaring top officials and drawing a promise from the defence minister to send out the army if Godzilla goes on a rampage.
"There are debates over what makes UFOs fly, but it would be difficult to say it's an encroachment of air space," Defence Minister Shigeru Ishiba told a news conference on Thursday. "If Godzilla were to show up, it would be a dispatch for disaster relief."
His remarks came after the top government spokesman was asked on Tuesday about an opposition politician's demand that the government confirm the existence of unidentified flying objects.
"Personally, I definitely believe they exist," chief cabinet secretary Nobutaka Machimura said, drawing laughter from reporters. Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda took a more guarded stance later in the day, saying he has yet to confirm their existence.
The debate started on Tuesday when the cabinet issued a statement in response to the opposition lawmaker's question, saying it could not confirm any cases of UFO sightings.
Not all lawmakers are enthralled. "Give me a break," ruling party lawmaker Toshihiro Nikai was quoted as saying by the Yomiuri newspaper. "There are many (other) things politics has to respond to."
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