On December 10, the Security Council and Cabinet of Japan approved the “National Defense Program Guideline for FY 2005 and After” (the new NDPG) and the “Mid-Term Defense Build-up Plan (FY2005-FY2009)” (the new MTDBP).
Japan stipulated the “National Defense Program Guideline for FY 2005 and After,” since it recognized the need to set new guidelines for shaping Japan’s future security and defense capabilities in the midst of today’s security environment, which poses the challenge of dealing with new threats such as the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles as well as international terrorist activities and various other situations that affect peace and security.
As for the cooperation with Japan’s alliance partner, the Guideline states not only that the Japan-U.S. Security Arrangements are indispensable to ensure security of Japan as well as peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, but also that the close cooperative relationship based on the arrangements with the United States plays an important role in facilitating international efforts to address effectively the new threats and situations. From this point of view, it states that Japan will proactively engage in a strategic dialogue with the United States on wide-ranging security issues such as bilateral role-sharing and military postures including the U.S. force structure in Japan , while working to enhance unity between our perceptions on the new security environment and the appropriate strategic objectives .
In addition, Japan will continue to strengthen the Japan-U.S. Security Arrangements by actively promoting measures such as information exchange, operational cooperation including that in the “situations in areas surrounding Japan,” cooperation on ballistic missile defense, equipment and technology exchange, and efforts for smoother and more efficient stationing of U.S. forces in Japan .
Basic points of the Guideline are as follows:
* Objectives of the new NDPG (National Defense Program Guideline for FY 2005 and After)
In the new NDPG, Japan elucidated its vision for its future defense forces premised on the basic principles of our security policy. The Guideline upholds two security policy objectives: (a) to prevent any threat from reaching Japan and, in the event that it does, to repel it; and (b) to improve the international security environment in order to prevent any threat from reaching Japan. Especially regarding the latter objective, it is made clear that improving the international security environment is one of the major pillars of security policy of Japan , whose prosperity and growth depend indispensably on maritime transport security.
The Guideline points out that it is necessary to combine in an integrated manner Japan ’s own effort and cooperative efforts with an alliance partner and the international community. At the same time, it states that Japan will continue to firmly uphold that basic principles of its defense policy that have been maintained under the Constitution.
* Specific Measures
In an effort to meet those objectives, the Guideline provides that Japan will do its utmost to prevent any threat from reaching the country by employing all available means. In the event that these efforts fail to prevent a threat from reaching Japan , the Government as one will take an integrated response by swiftly making appropriate decisions and by having all the relevant organizations cooperate properly. The Guideline clearly states that in order to protect Japan and its people, it is necessary to utilize all available means by integrating the capability of relevant organizations such as the Self-Defense Forces, the police and the Japan Coast Guard. At the same time, it provides that Japan will carry out diplomatic and other activities to improve the international security environment as a part of its own efforts to prevent emergence of threats.
With regard to Japan’s defense forces, the ultimate guarantee for its national security, the Guideline states that, while inheriting the elements of the Basic Defense Force Concept that still remain valid, future defense forces must be capable of effectively responding to the new threats and situations as well as of actively participating in international peace cooperation activities in which the international community cooperatively make efforts to improve international security environment. Taking into account the stringent fiscal conditions that remain while roles that defense forces have to play are multiplying, the Guideline states that Japan ’s future defense forces should be made multi-functional, flexible, and effective through the rationalization and streamlining.
* Importance of Japan-U.S. Security Arrangements
As for the cooperation with Japan’s alliance partner, the Guideline states not only that the Japan-U.S. Security Arrangements are indispensable to ensure security of Japan as well as peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, but also that the close cooperative relationship based on the arrangements with the United States plays an important role in facilitating international efforts to address effectively the new threats and situations. From this point of view, it states that Japan will proactively engage in a strategic dialogue with the United States on wide-ranging security issues such as bilateral role-sharing and military postures including the U.S. force structure in Japan , while working to enhance unity between our perceptions on the new security environment and the appropriate strategic objectives .
With regard to cooperation with the international community, the Guideline upholds that Japan will use Official Development Assistance (ODA) strategically and promote participation in international peace cooperation activities. A clear description of the relation between such activities and the improvement of international security environment is one of the highlights of the new NDPG.
Regarding the defense forces of the future, the Guideline emphasizes the need to respond effectively to the new threats and situations, and states that Japan will appropriately organize and deploy highly responsive, mobile defense force units in accordance with the character of the units and Japan’s geographical characteristics, in order to respond to various situations, such as ballistic missile attacks; attacks carried out by guerrillas and special operations forces; invasion of islands; patrol and surveillance in the surrounding sea and air areas; response to the violation of airspace, intrusion of armed spy ships, and large-scale and/or nuclear, biological, chemical and radiological disasters. The Guideline provides that when such situations actually take place, in accordance with situation and role-sharing, defense forces will respond in smooth and close collaboration with the police and other relevant organizations to seek seamless response to the situations.
As regards the preparation for full scale invasions of Japan , the Government made the decision to undertake a drastic review to significantly reduce personnel and equipment earmarked to cope with that contingency, based on the judgment that a full scale armed invasion of Japan has become less likely in the foreseeable future. At the same time, however, considering the fact that the essential goal of our defense forces is to counter large-scale aggression, and that restructuring defense forces cannot be completed in short period of time, the Guideline states that Japan will maintain the most basic capabilities of its defense forces, while taking into account developments in neighboring countries and making use of technological progress.
With a view to improving the international security environment, the Guideline provides that Japan will establish infrastructure and make necessary arrangements to engage adequately in international peace cooperation activities. It also states that Japan will strongly promote activities for international peace and stability such as through security dialogues and defense exchanges.
As for the arms export control, Japan will firmly maintain the policy of dealing with the issue carefully, in the light of the basic philosophy as a peaceful nation on which the Three Principles on arms exports is based.
However, regarding the cases related to the ballistic missile defense system, when Japan decides that it will engage in joint development and production, from the viewpoint of contributing to the effective operation of the Japan-U.S. security arrangements and are conductive to the security of Japan, the Government will not apply the Three Principles on arms exports under the condition that strict control is maintained.
In addition, through the formulation process of the new NDPG, questions were raised as to how to handle cases on joint development and production with the United States (other than those related to the ballistic missile defense system), as well as cases in supporting counter-terrorism, counter-piracy and in other efforts made by other countries. The handling of these cases will be decided on a case-by-case basis, in the light of Japan’s basic philosophy as a peaceful nation, which aims at avoiding the escalation of international conflicts.
Japan will conduct the necessary study on how Japan’s international peace cooperation shall be based on the new NDPG. At the same time, it will study and subsequently take necessary legal and other measures for Japan’s various security and defense policy agendas including positioning of international peace cooperation activities in Self-Defense Forces’ mission priorities, and operational issues pertaining to the ballistic missile defense systems.
Considering the importance of clearly indicating the target defense force level in the mid- to long-term, the new NDPG clarifies the vision for the defense forces in the next ten years. However, in order to better adjust our defense to the changing security environment, the NDPG stipulates that it will be reviewed in five years time considering the security environment at that time and be revised as necessary.
* The new MTDBP (Mid-Term Defense Build-up Plan (FY2005-FY2009))
The new MTDBP was adopted to realize the defense forces that Japan should possess stipulated on the new NDPG. As for the total amount of the defense related expense necessary to implement the plan, the target of the new MTDBP is about 24.24 trillion yen based on the cost in FY 2004.
An unofficial translation of the following documents can be downloaded by clicking each item.
Japan’s National Defense Program Guideline for FY 2005 and After
Mid-Term Defense Build-up Plan (FY2005-FY2009)
Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda
[Related links]
* Japan-U.S. Relations
* Japan-U.S. Security Arrangements
* Fight against Terrorism
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