2020 DEFENSE OF JAPAN Defense White Paper DIGEST Chapter 3 Japan’s Security and Defense Policy National Security Strategy (NSS) The NSS developed in December 2013 specifies, as Japan’s fundamental principle of national security, that Japan will contribute more proactively than ever before to the peace, stability, and prosperity of the international community, while committed to continuing the path as a peace-loving nation, and seeking its own security as well as peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region from the perspective of a “Proactive Contribution to Peace” based on the principle of international cooperation. Relationship among the NSS, the NDPG, the MTDP, and the fiscal year budget NSS Based on NSS NDPG Achieve target defense capabilities prescribed MTDP Basic Policy on National Security, centered around diplomatic and defense policies (approx. 10-year time frame) Prescribes future defense force and target levels of defense force that Japan should achieve (approx. 10-year time frame) Indicate (limits of) five-year total expenditures and quantity of major equipment Appropriate budget, develop specific projects Annual budget Examine based on the current situations, appropriate annual budget as necessary The National Defense Program Guidelines for FY2019 and Beyond (NDPG) ● The NDPG was approved by the National Security Council and the Cabinet in December 2018. ● The NDPG establishes the posture of Japan’s defense forces and the level to achieve, envisioning approximately 10 years Changes in NDPG 1976 NDPG (October 29, 1976, the National Defense Council/Cabinet Meeting) Background ○ Détente and Cold War coexisting in global community ○ Balanced relationship among the United States, China, and the Soviet Union in the vicinity of Japan ○ Need to show the target of defense force buildup Basic ideas in 1976 NDPG ・ The concept of Basic Defense Capability ・ Maintain a minimum-necessary defense force as an independent nation preventing a power vacuum that destabilizes the region, rather than coping with a direct military threat to Japan 19 years 1995 NDPG (November 28, 1995, the Security Council/Cabinet Meeting) 9 years 2004 NDPG (December 10, 2004, the Security Council/Cabinet Meeting) Background ○ The end of Cold War ○ International situation with unpredictability and uncertainty ○ National expectations to international contribution Background ○ New threats such as international terrorism and ballistic missile attacks ○ Direct connection between world peace and Japan’s peace ○ Necessity to convert the policy from putting weight on deterrence to handling the situation Basic ideas in 1995 NDPG ・ Basically follow the concept of Basic Defense Capability ・ “Dealing with various contingencies such as major disasters” and “contributing to building a more stable security environment” added to the roles of defense capability, joining the existing role of “defense of the nation” Basic ideas in 2004 NDPG ・ Capability to work independently and proactively on implementing international peace cooperation activities, as well as dealing effectively with new threats and diverse contingencies ・ Succeeding the effective parts of the concept of Basic Defense Capability 6 years Background 2010 NDPG (December 17, 2010, the Security Council/Cabinet Meeting) ○ Change in global power balance ○ Complex military situation surrounding Japan ○ Diversification of the military role in global society 3 years Background 2013 NDPG (December 17, 2013, the National Security Council/Cabinet Meeting) ○ Security situation surrounding Japan has become increasingly severe ○ U.S. rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region ○ Lessons learned from the Self-Defense Forces experience of the Great East Japan Earthquake 5 years 2018 NDPG (December 18, 2018, the National Security Council/Cabinet Meeting) Background ○ Security situation surrounding Japan has become increasingly severe and uncertain at extremely high speeds ○ Rapid expansion in the use of new domains, which are space, cyberspace and electromagnetic spectrum ○ Clear trends observed in further military build-up and increase in military activities Basic ideas in 2010 NDPG ・ Build up of a Dynamic Defense Force (Not bound by the concept of Basic Defense Capability) ・ Facilitating effective deterrence of and responses to various contingencies, and making it possible to proactively conduct activities to further stabilize the security environment in the Asia-Pacific region and improve the global security environment in a dynamic manner Basic ideas in 2013 NDPG ・ Build up of a Dynamic Joint Defense Force ・ Defense force to be more thorough with the concept of joint operation, which enables the SDF to respond swiftly to the increasingly severe security environment and carry out various activities, such as achieving maritime supremacy and air superiority, seamlessly and flexibly Basic ideas in 2018 NDPG ・ Development of “Multi-domain Defense Force” ・ Truly effective defense capability that enables cross-domain operations organically fusing capabilities in all domains by strengthening not only those in traditional domains—land, sea and air—but also those in new domains, which are space, cyberspace and electromagnetic spectrum Digest 24