Defense policy

Lecturer: Dr. Masayo Goto1

Major issues
Background of security of JapanDefense Agency of Japan

Self Defense Forces

Domestic security issues
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SECURITY OF JAPAN3

Background of Security of Japan
Pre-war world Japan was recognized as a dominant
power within Asia
 A permanent member of the Security
Council of the League of Nations (formerUN) from 1920 until 1933 – Japan was notallowed to join the UN until 1956
Post war JapanThe 1947 Constitution of Japan banned theJapanese from re-arming
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Yoshida Doctrine(postwar prime minister Yoshida)
Yoshida’s approach to foreign policy
1.

2.

3.

Economic growth – to win peace
after losing the war
Maintain only a small, lightly armed
forces for Self defense
Rely on the US for security
guarantee
5Japan’s nuclear policy(by prime minister Kishi)
1.

2.

3.

4.

Reliance on the US nuclear umbrellaCommitment to three non-nuclear
principles (not to produce, possess or
have them on Japan soil)
Promotion of worldwide disarmament
Development of nuclear energy forpeaceful purposes6Three principles for arms exports(prime minister Sato in 1967)
Not to export arms to the communist blocNo to export arms to countries covered by a UNarms embargo

Not to export arms to countries involved inarmed conflictThis was later developed by Prime Minister Mikito a ban on all arms exports.

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)1976 Japan signed the treaty
7Threats to Japan’s securityNorth Korea• North Korea’s Taepodong launch in 1998
• Infiltration of North Korean spy ships in 1999
• Nuclear weapons program• Abduction

China• China is unlikely to inflict a direct attack on
Japan, except for China’s military intervention
in Taiwan affair (i.e. Taiwan’s independence)
would threat to Japan’s security)
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The Defense Agency of Japan (JDA)

9The Defense Agency of Japan (JDA)

The Defence Agency was established in 1965
JDA is not a full-fledged ministry, but attached tothe Cabinet Office.
The head of the JDA (Director General) is aminister of state and a member of the Cabinet
Objectives
To prevent direct and indirect aggression, but
once invaded, to repel such aggression topreserve the independence and peace of Japan10

Defense expenditure
US$ per capita

19852001US

1,631

1,128

UK

852

583

France895

553

Russia

N/A

440

Japan

269

310

North Korea

308

91

China

2936

Although Japan possesses sizeable military assets, it ranks
the fifth defense spender (Source: International Institutefor Strategic Studies (2002)11

Self Defense Forces (SDF)12

Self Defense Forces

SDF was established in 1954
Army, navy and air force under the supervision ofthe Director general of the Defense Agency.
Exclusively defense oriented• Can only act if attacked• Must take minimum actions required fordefense• Size of capability must be limited to theminimum necessary for defense (no offensiveand strategic weapons)
In International law, ‘Self-defense’ covers bothindividual and collective defense, but Article 9 of
the Constitution of Japan is usually viewed asmeaning that only acts of individual defense arepermissible.
13Role of the SDF (Since 1979)
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

To maintain an adequate surveillance posture
To act and take the steps required to respondto domestic insurgency
To rebuff cases of limited and small-scale
aggression
To effectively function in the fields of command
communication, transportation and rescueTo carry out extensive education and training ofSDEF
To carry out disaster relief operations
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Legislation concerning SDF activities and theactivities of the US forces

The SDF can provide the US forces with supplies
such as weapons and ammunition and services
free of charge.
The Japanese government will be required tocompensate the public and local authorities fordamages and losses resulting from the activitiesof the US military.
The Prime Minister can allow the US military touse privately owned land or structures if hedeems it necessary should Japan come underattack.
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The Japan-US Acquisition and CrossServicing Agreement (ACSA)Signed February 2004
This revision allows the SDF and US forces
to expand the scope of exchanging goods
and services to Japan’s emergency
situations, international contributions andlarge-scale disasters.
Allows the SDF to supply ammunition to US
forces in the event of an armed attack or an
expected attack on Japan.
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The Japan-US Acquisition and CrossServicing Agreement (Cont’)Allow the US and Japan to exchange
services in Japan-US joint training, PKO,
humanitarian and international relief
activities and situations in areassurrounding Japan.
Allow two countries to exchange food, fuel,clothes and military parts and services such astransporting troops and repairing vehicles.

Not allowed to provide each other with weaponsand ammunition.

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Domestic security issues

18Security related Domestic laws






1992

Peacekeeping Operations Bill Dispatch of the SDF to overseas for a noncombat role2001 Anti-terrorism Measures Law
 This enabled the SDF to give logistic
assistance to the US-led forces in the IndianOcean ⇒ The Cabinet endorsed to extend forone more year
2003

Emergency Legislation
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Emergency Legislation (2003)
1.

2.

3.

The Armed Attack Situation Law or Armed
Attack Contingency Law: The government isgiven more powers to respond to a foreign
military attack on Japan or perceived threats ofsuch an attack (武力攻撃事態対処法)
The Revised Self-Defence Law: This allows toloosen some restrictions to facilitate themobilization of the SDF including the use ofweapons (自衛隊改正法)
The Revised Law on the Establishment of theSecurity Council of Japan: The Home Affairs
Minister and others will be included in thecouncil and they are required to setup of a panel
to respond to an emergency situation(安全保障会議設置改正法)
20Constraints on expanding the military

Public opinion• There is little public support for a combatrole for the SDFArticle 9• The article preclude any military
establishment• If Japan want to avoid a major militarybuildup, Japan has little choice but torely on the armed strength of the US.
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New moves
Japan signed an agreement in 1983 permitting defense
technology transfer with the US
Enforcing missile defense capabilities• Concern over North Korea’s ballistic missile and nuclearcrisis• To meet US demand to further promote bilateral
cooperation in the missile defense• To build a missile defense shield against China’s ballistic
missile – long term goal
• Review on Japan’s arms export ban with the idea ofrevising it (JDA director stated this remark in 2004)22

Missile defense program






2003: Japan purchased SM-3 interceptor andPAC-3 systems from the US.
By 2007: JDA plans to deploy SM-3 missile withfour Aegis ships and PAC-3 missile system inTokyo
By 2010: JDA will introduce 18 Patriot Advanced
Capability, 3 surface-to-air guided missiles andcomponents
By 2011: JDA will introduce more PAC-3 to bring
the total number to 32 nationwide
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Questions
Question 1: Should Japan develop a
missile defense system or evennuclear weapons to defend thenation?
Question 2: Should the Self Defense
Forces be upgraded to military?

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End of Lecture(Defense policy)

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