Discussion for Revision of Defense Strategy Starts

Sanae Takaichi administration embarked on discussion for revision of security strategies scheduled by the end of this year. Concerning unstable security environment in the region around Japan, it is expected that Japan will further accumulate defense budget. Modernization of weapons are contemporary requirement at wars in Ukraine and Iran. Although there is an argument that Japan should maintain its three non-nuclear principles, it is unclear whether Japan can remain as a pacifist nation that renounces war as means of settling international disputes.

 

Takaichi has announced her intention to revise three security documents, -- National Security Strategy, National Defense Strategy and Defense Buildup Program --, which was revised in December 2022 by former prime minister Fumio Kishida. After that Donald Trump administration demanded allies of the United States to raise their defense budget. Unexpectedly prolonged wars in Ukraine and Iran showed unprecedented aspect of modern war which was cutting-edge technologies, such as drones or artificial intelligence has decisive power on the frontline of battles.

 

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) made a proposal to Takaichi government, which requested fundamental reform of defense capability within five years. It urged the government to unequivocally express the will of nation to defend themselves. Facing military pressure of China, the proposal recommends enhancement of technologies including capability of counterstrike, in the realm of space, cyber and electromagnetic waves.

 

With lessons of wars in Ukraine and Iran, war-continuation capability is one of the keywords in the proposal. The proposal indicated necessity for enforcing defense industry to prepare for immediate demand for weapons, munitions and other equipment. Takaichi government hopes to acquire capability of producing 80 thousand drones by 2030. Having said that, the proposal did not determine ideal size of defense budget or necessity of changing the three non-nuclear principles.

 

Takaichi government calls introduction of cutting-edge technology “new measures of warfare.” However, experts on security issues questioned hawkish stance of Takaichi government. In a governmental meeting for hearing from experts, a scholar recommended not to call it new measures of warfare, but “new measures of defense,” keeping exclusively defense-oriented policy of Japan. They argued that the three non-nuclear principles should not be easily discarded.

 

In the leading coalition by the LDP and Japan Innovation Party (JIP), JIP has been leading hawkish policies. Since forming the coalition last October, JIP became a driving force of deregulation of weapons exports, introduction of long-range missiles or advanced submarines and revision of Article 9 of the Constitution. There is an argument in the LDP that JIP’s excessive demand for military capability is irresponsible. It is likely that the LDP and JIP will respectively make their proposal for enhancement of defense capability later this year.


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