ROLES Insights Number 2022-05 August 25, 2022

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Next Step for Japan’s Defense Planning: Enhancing Joint Readiness
Number2022-05

August 25, 2022
By Ryo Hinata-Yamaguchi

Japan is currently working to revise the National Security Strategy (NSS) and the National Defense Program
Guidelines (NDPG) to deal with the continuously growing security challenges in the region.
While the exact details of the NSS and NDPG are not yet known, the upcoming defense budget request due inthe coming days will provide a set of hints. Some aspects have already been revealed, including: standoff
missiles; integrated air and missile defense; unmanned systems; cross-domain operation capabilities; improvedcommand and control; information warfare capabilities; rapid mobilization; utilization of new and emerging
technologies, and so forth. Such capabilities, along with ones already pursued under the current NDPG would
undoubtedly enhance the readiness of the Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF) in the ground, maritime, air, cyber,outer space, and electromagnetic domains, but also against hybrid warfare.
Yet despite the importance of the abovementioned capabilities, much will come down to how Japan converts
them into readiness to effectively and efficiently deal with the threats. The key would be to not only defend
and deter against enemy attacks and invasions, but also exploitive actions and movements. For instance, toattain readiness for sea control and denial, Japan will need to expand the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s
destroyer and submarine fleet; enhance naval aviation and sealift capabilities; fully utilize unmanned air,surface, and underwater vehicles; establish an offshore naval base, and rotationally deploy vessels to parts ofthe Indo-Pacific region to better deal with the threats and enhance Japan’s role in ensuring stability and rulesbased order; as well as employ new operational and tactical doctrines that mix firepower and power projection
with asymmetric warfare.
Reforming the JSDF’s operational command and control structure is also vital. Currently, the Joint Staff Office
is over-stretched handling both command and managerial duties that undermine the seamless execution ofResearch Center for Advanced Science and Technology, the University of Tokyo
Division of Religion and Global Security (ROLES)
4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8904 JAPANhttps://roles.rcast.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en
office@me.rcast.u-tokyo.ac.jp

ROLES Insights Number 2022-05 August 25, 2022

missions. To ensure greater effectiveness and efficiency, Japan must create joint theater and missioncommands so that the three JSDF branches can organically execute joint operations.
The hurdles in attaining the above along with other critical security agendas are by no means small, especiallywhen one considers the domestic political sensitivities that still exist despite the growing alertness to national
security risks. But there are also other problems, particularly relating to resources and capacity for defense
reform and other robust measures. Indeed, a larger defense budget will be a significant enabler, and there issome level of assurance with the government vowing to devote a significant amount of more resources todefense. That said, Japan must fix some of the inefficiencies in its defense planning to ensure that the resources
are properly used to attain optimal readiness for the most vital national defense missions.
Human resource constraints also need to be addressed. The problem is not simply about the shortage of
personnel in the JSDF overall, but the major deficits in the maritime and air branches that face the biggest
operational demands. Solutions to the problem would involve adjusting recruitment quotas, increasing salaries
and welfare benefits, as well as ensuring better distribution of personnel and roles among the three branches.
Moreover, Japan will also need to reform the reservist regime of the three JSDF branches by expanding
recruitment to both general enlists and technical experts, and properly integrating them with the activecomponent.
Enhancing cooperation with the United States (US) and its allies, as well as other like-minded states in theIndo-Pacific including Taiwan is also vital. Moreover, it would be critical for Japan to adopt an information
security regime that is equivalent to or at least acceptable to those of the US and its allies. Doing so would bevital not only for strategic, operational, and tactical information sharing and inclusion to the “Five Eyes” (US,United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand) but also for joint technological cooperation.
While the details of Japan’s upcoming NSS and NDPG are still being worked out, the future of the nation’s
defense pivots on joint readiness for cross-domain operations to immediately mobilize and deal with the threats
and contingencies – “sokuji genchaku, sokkou taiji” (immediate mobilization and rapid engagement). To
effectively defend and deter the threats from China, North Korea, and Russia that have upped the security risks
in the Indo-Pacific region, the time has come for Japan to take new and bold steps.

Note: This article is based on the author’s contributions to the forthcoming ROLES’ policy recommendations
for the upcoming National Security Strategy of Japan.
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Ryo Hinata-Yamaguchi is a Project Assistant Professor at the Research Center for Advanced Science andTechnology at the University of Tokyo and an Adjunct Fellow at the Pacific Forum. Ryo can be followed on
Twitter at @tigerrhy.

Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, the University of Tokyo
Division of Religion and Global Security (ROLES)
4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8904 JAPANhttps://roles.rcast.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en
office@me.rcast.u-tokyo.ac.jp