Japan Begins Debates on Revision of 3 Key Security Documents

Tokyo, April 27 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government on Monday launched discussions on the revision of its three key security-related documents scheduled for the end of this year. With Japan facing an increasingly severe security environment, the discussions will likely focus on the size of the country’s defense budget and on measures to beef up the Self-Defense Forces’ capabilities. The first meeting of a related expert panel was held on the day at the prime minister’s office in Tokyo and attended by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The panel plans to draw up its proposal around autumn. Expressing concerns about military-related moves by China, Russia and North Korea, Takaichi said, “We need to be proactive in drastically strengthening our defense capabilities in order to protect our nation’s peace and independence.” “Revising the three documents is an important matter that will determine the fate of our country,” she added. China is intensifying its military activities in the Pacific, while North Korea is repeatedly launching ballistic missiles. Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine and the ongoing Middle East conflict have raised new issues, such as the use of a massive number of drones as well as artificial intelligence and cognitive warfare. The panel will consider ways to enhance Japan’s responses to such new methods of war. Focal issues also include U.S. President Donald Trump’s request for U.S. allies to increase defense spending, a possible partial review of Japan’s three nonnuclear principles, as advocated by Takaichi, the advisability of Japan introducing a nuclear-powered submarine and how to describe China’s threats in the documents. Of the three documents, the National Security Strategy serves as the basis of Japan’s foreign and security policies. The National Defense Strategy outlines the country’s defense goals and measures, while the Defense Buildup Program details the equipment, personnel and budget of the SDF. Compiled in 2022 under the administration of then Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, the documents include a target of increasing Japan’s defense-related spending to 2 pct of its gross domestic product and a plan for the nation to possess counterstrike capabilities. The expert panel consists of 15 members, including former Japanese Ambassador to the United States Kenichiro Sasae, who serves as its chair, Koji Yamazaki, former chief of staff at the Defense Ministry’s Joint Staff, and Takayuki Morita, president of major electronics maker NEC Corp. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]