LDP Promotes Revision of Three Security Documents

The Research Commission on Security of Liberal Democratic Party approved their proposal to the government of Japan on revision of the three security documents (National Security Strategy, National Defense Strategy and Defense Buildup Program), which Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi promotes as one of her main policies in national security. The proposal did not touch on revisioning Japan’s fundamental policy on nuclear weapons, or the three non-nuclear principles, while it encourages building up combat sustainability. The LDP is going to hand the proposal over the government in mid-June.

As seen in this kind of security documents, the proposal stresses growingly severe security environment around Japan. It says that China has been weaponizing its economy, indicating effective embargo of its critical minerals, North Korea is developing its nuclear weapons and missiles and Russia is making joint exercises with China around Japan. The proposal demands the reform of Japan’s defense capability should be completed within next five years.

 

One of the focal points in LDP discussion was revision of the three non-nuclear principles: not possess, not produce and not allow introduction of nuclear weapons. Former prime minister Shinzo Abe was paid attention when he did not refer to “implementation of three non-nuclear principles” at his speech in memorial ceremony of atomic bombing in Hiroshima in 2015. He also supported a discussion of nuclear sharing with the United States in 2022. Takaichi identifies herself as the successor of Abe.

 

Takaichi has been willing to revise the third principle for introduction of nuclear weapons, in a view of maintaining nuclear deterrence of the United States. However, it is broadly recognized that Takaichi could avoid U.S. President Donald Trump’s request of sending troops to the Strait of Hormuz, backed by Japan’s pacifist policies including the three non-nuclear principles. The LDP council did not discuss revision of the three principles in this timing.

 

Instead, the proposal included various updating of defense capability. Refraining from introducing nuclear-powered ones, it recommended introduction of submarines which has a capability of vertical missile launching system. With lessons from the War in Ukraine, the proposal focused on combat sustainability for a year or longer. Development of drones, artificial intelligence, capability for asymmetric warfare and unmanned vehicles are recommended to enhance defense capability.

 

In revision of the three security documents in 2022, increasing defense budget was the core of the policy. Then prime minister Fumio Kishida set a goal of the budget at 2 percent of Japan’s GDP. The LDP proposal in 2026 did not set any specific goal for defense budget. As they recognize discussions in other likeminded countries such as Republic of Korea or NATO on 3.5 percent of GDP, the LDP has not found viable fiscal resource for increasing defense budget.

 

Japan Innovation Party (JIP), coalition partner of the LDP, hopes to accelerate building up of security policy. It unequivocally argues revision of the three non-nuclear principles. JIP considers submitting its own idea for revision of three security documents.

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