Strategic Annual Report 2019
A New Security Strategy for Addressing Challenges in the Turbulent International Order

A New Security Strategy for Addressing Challenges
in the Turbulent International OrderPresident Trump boards JMSDF helicopter carrier Kaga along with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, May 2019.
(Photo Yomiuri Shimbun/AFLO)

The post-World War II international

The Trump administration, under theorder, which was formed under thebanner of “America First,” has chosen

leadership of the United States, wasto strategically compete with China andbased on the premise that all nations,

Russia, viewing them as “revisionist

large and small, should abide bystates” that challenge the existing

international law and spread liberalinternational order. At the same time,values such as individual freedom,

the Trump administration has placeddemocracy, human rights, the rule ofgreater priority on protecting its own

law, the peaceful resolution of disputes,

interests rather than on maintaining

and free trade. In recent years, however,

the existing order, and has called

countries discontented with the existingfor correcting trade imbalances andinternational order, such as China andincreasing burdens on its allies. InRussia, have been trying to create an

particular, the Trump administration’senvironment favorable to authoritarianpolicy of valuing the contributions of its

regimes by unilaterally changing orallies from a financial perspective is adenying

serious issue that could undermine theinternationallynorms and systems.
57

establishedcredibility of the Japan-US alliance.

China has declared that it will aim toand special operations capabilities, tobecome a strong nation by the middle

become a serious threat in Northeastof this century. Based on its “Belt andAsia. Dialogue between North Korea

Road Initiative,” China has focusedand the United States has not led toon the development of ports in coastal

the denuclearization of North Korea,

countries in the Indian Ocean and Pacificand it continues to develop new short-island countries, while at the same timeand intermediate-range missiles whileproviding huge amounts of unrepayable

continuing to evade sanctions throughaid to developing countries, creating

ship-to-ship transfer of prohibited goods.

unequal diplomatic relations between

Thus, the future of denuclearization isthe debtor countries and China. Chinaunpredictable.

is also developing infrastructure suchas 5G, submarine cables, and satellite

Russia has been strengthening its

positioning

extendingnuclear and conventional forces in theits influence by expanding its own

Far East, and is working to militarize

e-commerce network, and exporting

the Northern Territories by deploying

a digital surveillance social modelanti-ship missiles. In addition to military

using facial recognition technology tocooperation and joint exercises, Russia

other authoritarian countries, creatingand China have begun to cooperate inan order that is incompatible with theoperational areas, such as joint patrols

concept of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

ofWhile China’s anti-access/area-denial

negotiations on a peace treaty between(A2/AD) capabilities in the East andJapan and Russia have made little

South China seas have already become

progress, and Russia opposes thea real threat, China has been using

deployment of Japan’s Aegis Ashore

government ships, fishing boats, andsystems.

technology,

strategic

bombers.

Meanwhile,marine militias to create a gray-zone
situation without leading up to war andChina and the United States areto continue trying to change borders.

investing in the development of cuttingedge technologies, such as artificial
itsintelligence (AI), unmanned aerial

nuclear missile capabilities, combined

vehicles (UAVs), and automation, aswith its traditional heavy weapons

well as in efforts to use them for military

North

Korea

has

leapfrogged

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Strategic Annual Report 2019
A New Security Strategy for Addressing Challenges in the Turbulent International Orderpurposes. Military competition between

priority to its own interests, Japanthe two countries over cyberwarfare,should

anti-satellite

electronic

with the United Nations, ASEAN,warfare capabilities, and hypersonicIndia, the EU, and others in order toweapons is accelerating. These “game-maintain a rules-based internationalchanger technologies” will alter theorder and promote the rule of law andfuture of warfare and affect the military

the peaceful resolution of disputes inbalance in East Asia.

the international community in orderweapons,strengthenitscooperation

to counter changes in the status quo
by authoritarian regimes. It is also
necessary to oppose protectionism andaddress the challenges brought about
by globalization through the G7, theGroup of 20 and APEC. With regard
to the suppression of individual rights
by authoritarian states, the government
A Russian TU-95 bomber flies over East China Sea,July 23,
2019. (Photo the Joint Staff Office of the Defense Ministryof Japan /Reuters/AFLO)

Despitethedeterioration

ofenvironment,theshouldinternational

governmentofJapan continues to view the current
2013 National Security Strategy as“appropriate.” However, the alliancepolicy of the Trump administrationand the expansion of China’s influence
have greatly changed since the initialassessment, and a review of this strategy
is essential. In doing so, the following
points should be emphasized.
With China disrupting the international
order and the United States giving top59

toseekfurtheractions together with the international

above-mentioned
thecontinuecommunity. In addition, it is necessary
to deepen Japan’s contributions tointernational

peace

cooperation

activities from Self-Defense Forces(SDF) dispatches, as done heretofore,
to support for capacity building such as
the provision of equipment and training
to developing countries and for thebuilding of a security framework so thatthese capabilities can be used efficiently.
In order to strengthen its own defense
capabilities, Japan should steadily builda “multidimensional integrated defenseforce” that effectively fuses capabilities

in all areas, including space, cyberspace,

Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty,

and the electromagnetic spectrum.

Japan and the United States should

At the same time, a Joint Operations

undertake bilateral consultations on

Command should be established tothe joint development and deployment

further strengthen SDF integration.

of new intermediate-range missiles.

Given the possibility that the SDF’s
missile defense system could be nullified

Stable relations between Japan andby further upgrading of the DPRK’s

China are indispensable to the peace andmissile capabilities, it is necessary toprosperity of the Indo-Pacific region,

consider new countermeasures, suchand Japan should build a “mutuallyas directed energy weapons, boost

beneficial

phase interception, and preemptive

in every field, including security,

attacks with hypersonic weapons. In

from a broad medium- to long-term

addition, Japan and the United States

perspective. Meanwhile, as the Unitedshould constantly update their flexible

Statesdeterrence options and joint plans inChina, Japan needs to take a pragmaticorder to strengthen command andapproach to China’s growing power

control and operational coordination

and revisionist activities. As China’s

between the SDF and the US Indo-economic growth slows, Japan should

Pacific Command, and to appropriately

also consider adopting a cost-imposing

respond to the expansion of conflicts

strategy in which China pursues morefrom peacetime to gray-zone situations

open economic policies and gains

and armed attack situations. Alongbroader benefits by diverting resources

with the steady realignment of US

from military expansion to social andforces, Japan should promote the joint

civilian uses. Furthermore, in additionuse of bases and facilities, expand US

tomilitary access to Japanese civilianof the Japan Coast Guard, Japan

facilities,

operational

should establish a system to respondcooperation based on the “Guidelines

appropriately to hybrid warfare infor Japan-US Defense Cooperation”

gray-zone situations and armed attackand strive to rectify the asymmetry ofsituations. With tensions mountingthe alliance. In addition, in the wakein the Taiwan Strait, the strategicof the expiration of the Intermediate-

importance of a democratic Taiwan

maximizestrategic

competesstrengtheningrelationship”

strategicallythewithcapabilities

60

Strategic Annual Report 2019
A New Security Strategy for Addressing Challenges in the Turbulent International Ordershould be reassessed, and security

with China, while at the same timecooperation with Taiwan corresponding

urging China, as a creditor nation, totoimplement relief measures in line withdevelopments

relationsandinChina-TaiwanUS-Taiwanrelations

the standards of developed countries,

should be pursued in addition to theincluding China’s participation in thepromotion of pragmatic economic andParis Club.

human resources exchanges.
Japan should strengthen international61

To achieve a “free and open Indo-cooperation to transform North Korea’sPacific”, Japan should strengthen its

strategic ability to favorably negotiatepresence in the South China Sea andon nuclear weapons into a strategic

the Indian Ocean region, maintain theliability that leads the country tocooperative framework among Japan,

bankruptcy by maintaining maximum

the United States, Australia, and I

pressure and preventing loopholes inndia (QUAD), and strengthen its

sanctions, including through tighter

partnerships with the United Kingdom,

enforcement of ship-to-ship transfers –the core of the Five Power Defence

in collaboration with its international

Arrangements (FPDA) and the UK-

partners – and the deportation ofUSA Agreement (Five Eyes), and with

North Korean workers overseas until

France, which has territory in theNorth Korea responds with genuine

Indo-Pacific region. In addition, Japandenuclearization. In addition, Japan, theshould promote the development of

United States and South Korea should

high-quality infrastructure aimed atdeepen cooperation on missile defense,

expanding connectivity that generates

antisubmarine warfare, proliferation

active flows of people and goods, andprevention and noncombatant rescue

should propose alternative measures

operations. Furthermore, Japan, thefor the “debt traps” in the region andUnited States and the ROK should

provide financial support to countries

strengthen their cooperation towardalready suffering from debt to China.

the establishment of a peace regime on

In this regard, it is important tothe Korean Peninsula in the event ofsteer China’s aid to the international

progresslevel through practical third-country

which

economicshared recognition of the role andcooperation

intalks

inthey

denuclearization,
shouldreaffirm

intheirimportance of US Forces Korea. On

is clear that a slight increase will not

the other hand, in order to build Japan-

be sufficient for Japan to maintain its

North Korea relations based on thetrue independence and ensure its own

Pyongyang Declaration, Japan-North

security and prosperity. In light ofKorea dialogue should be promotedthis situation, it is necessary to makealongside progress in US-North Korea

serious efforts to strengthen Japan’s

negotiations.

technological and financial bases andto work out necessary technological

While the peace treaty and territorial

innovation and defense expenditures

negotiations between Japan and Russia

from the perspective of investment inneed to be continued tenaciously,

the future.

it should be recognized that thestrengthening of Japan-Russia relations,

In order to strengthen the defensein the context of the major strategic

industry infrastructure that supports

relationships among the United States,Japan’s

China, and Russia, has a limited impact

defense industry should concentrate itson Sino-Russian relations, and Japan

resources on the technical fields andshould make it clear that economic

infrastructure that must be maintainedcooperation cannot be pursued if Russia

in order to enhance the capabilities

continues its militarization of theof

Northern Territories and provocativeequipment. At the same time, theactions in areas surrounding Japan.

defense industry should be reorganizedJapan also strongly urges Russia toto establish stronger companies andplay a constructive role in dealing withbusiness entities, and the infrastructure

North Korea, Syria, Iran and Ukraine.

for the development and manufacture ofdefense

capabilities,domestically-producedthedefense

higher-performance defense equipment
The foundations that support Japan’s

and the fostering of international

defense capabilities have become socompetitiveness should be developed. It

fragile that they cannot be ignored any

is also necessary to promote the transfer

longer. For example, given that China’sof defense equipment by utilizing thedefense spending has increased neary

framework of the Three Principles on

15-fold over the past 30 years and is now

the Transfer of Defense Equipment andmore than three times that of Japan, it

Materials to expand markets and reduce62equipment prices.
Based on the trends in the defense
technology environment, Japan should
develop a system to ascertain, protect,andfosteradvanced

technologies

developed in Japan, and draw up aroadmap to introduce them to theMinistry of Defense and the SDF. In linewith Japan’s demographic trends, thegovernment should also utilize cuttingedge technologies to cope with thelabor shortages caused by the decliningbirthrate.

Furthermore,fromtheperspective of realizing more efficientdefensespending,

thegovernment

should review investment in large
vessels, short-range aircraft, and fixed
platforms that are vulnerable in modern
warfare, and also utilize unmannedsystemsthat

conduct

autonomous

operations using artificial intelligence
under human control.■63