Hazardous space debris in Earth’s orbit is spurring Japan to develop a space monitoring division of its Self-Defense Forces. Scientists estimate that around 3,000 pieces of debris are orbiting the Earth, endangering man-made satellites. Japan plans to use this new monitoring division to protect its satellites, however, the way the Asian nation is going about it has some people worried. Some are warning that the world may be entering a perilous new phase of escalating space weapon development.

The United States and Japan have been building a space force since 2007, when China prominently tested its satellite-destroying capabilities by shooting down one of its own satellites with a missile. The following year, Japan adopted its Basic Space Law, allowing space defense operations, and it partnered with the U.S. in monitoring space debris that could potentially harm its space operations.

In May, Japan and the U.S. agreed to enhance cooperation in defense-related matters of what has been called the “fourth battlefield.” While Japan’s plans for this new space division are officially defensive and for destroying space junk, the technology could just as easily be used to shoot down other nations’ satellites and space infrastructure.

As Japan forges ahead with its space operations, watch for it to use the space monitoring division as a cover for an offensive space program. Look for the space race to heat up. As Trumpet columnist Ron Fraser wrote over a decade ago: “War is endemic to the past and continuing history of mankind. Consider and realize that major wars will never be controlled from this Earth’s surface again! From now on, all major wars will be controlled fromspace.”

Read “Does Japan’s Historic Constitutional Change Mean Its Military Secret Will Soon Come Out?” to see how Japan is abandoning its pacifist constitution and is militarizing once again.