The Japanese Ministry of Defense has published a new edition of the White Paper, an annual report on island state defense issues.

The first part of the document talks about the situation around Japan. Among the countries influencing the situation are listed the USA, China, Russia and North Korea. Speaking about the United States, the authors of the report note that for Washington the most important problem is "the strategic rivalry of the two revisionist powers - China and Russia." At the same time, the US-Japanese alliance is called one of the foundations of Japan’s defense strategy and the “core” of its security. It is clarified that in order for the alliance to be able to “adequately” function, it is important to ensure the presence of American forces in Japanese territory.

  • US Air Force F-35A Fighter
  • © US Air Force

Speaking about the negative, from the point of view of Tokyo, role of China, the report authors noted that the Chinese initiative “One Belt - One Way” can contribute to the creation of base points in the Indian and Pacific regions, suitable not only for trade, but also for military purposes. In addition, the document states that Beijing intends to turn the People's Liberation Army of China (PLA) into the armed forces of the "first class" by the middle of the 21st century.

To do this, the Celestial Empire is conducting a “large-scale and rapid” buildup of military potential. Moreover, much attention is paid to the development of opportunities in outer space, cybernetic and electromagnetic spaces. Tokyo's actions are also of great concern to Beijing in the South China Sea and regarding the Senkaku Islands.

Official Beijing commented on the points listed in the Japanese defense digest. According to Zhao Lijian, spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, speaking at a briefing on July 14, Beijing has already filed a complaint about the document.

“The Japanese White Paper on Japanese defense contains a lot of prejudice and false information. Japan is trying to do everything it can to fan the so-called Chinese threat, ”he stressed. 

Russia's defense activity also raises concerns in Tokyo. According to the authors of the report, the Russian side "continues to maintain the presence of its armed forces in the northern territories" - we are talking about the islands of the Kuril ridge. Tokyo calls these lands "the original territories of Japan." 

At the same time, Russia is actively developing and modernizing its defense potential, developing fifth-generation fighters and strike UAVs. 

“In addition, it (Russia. — RT ) is also stepping up its activities in new areas, including outer space and electromagnetic space,” the White Book says.

The Japanese side also notes the “strengthening of interaction” between Russia and the PRC in the defense field, while Moscow and Beijing “deny the very idea” of a military alliance.

In addition, with reference to the opinion of the American allies, the Japanese military notes that the hypersonic weapons being developed in Russia and the PRC "challenge the existing missile defense system."

Also, the document notes, Russia is increasing its potential for electronic suppression.

Space ambition

Tokyo names space, cyberspace, and electromagnetic space as the areas of greatest importance to the country's defense.

It is noted that Japan is engaged in the creation of a "truly effective multidimensional integrated military potential."

The specific plans of the Japanese Ministry of Defense are also listed in the document. In the space region, Tokyo intends to form a system of space operational units and create space observation systems. The Japanese military also intends to strengthen the potential of cyber defense units and the country's capabilities in electromagnetic space.

For this, among other measures, it is planned to “acquire the F-35A and F-35B fighters,” which have “the highest potential for electronic defense”.

At the same time, in order to strengthen Japan’s potential in the sea and airspace, it is planned to “develop a new generation of fighters on the initiative of Japan” and “introduce small-sized remote-controlled underwater vehicles for defense in underwater space”.

As Valery Kistanov, head of the Center for Japanese Studies at the Institute of the Far East of the Russian Academy of Sciences, explained in an interview with RT, for Japan this technique is especially important because the country is surrounded by the sea.

  • Headquarters of the Ministry of Defense of Japan
  • © Wikimedia Commons

“Most likely, the underwater vehicles referred to in the White Paper will be designed to detect and counter Chinese submarines. In addition, we should not forget that Japan has territorial claims against Russia and South Korea. As for the creation of our own fighter of a new generation, this is a rather distant prospect, we are talking only about a technical reserve. So far, Tokyo is increasingly purchasing US military aircraft, ”the expert explained.

Military expert Alexei Leonkov recalled in a RT commentary on the US program to create unmanned underwater drones.

“For the United States, this is a priority program; a bet has been made on robotic systems that will operate in water, under water, on the ground, in the air, and in space. And the software for such a technique may well be created by Japan, ”the expert explained.

In addition, the analyst recalled, Tokyo intends to purchase stand-off missiles placed outside the enemy’s air defense and SM-3 missiles.  

The White Paper also mentions an increase in Tokyo's defense spending over the past 8 years. So, compared with the previous year, defense spending in fiscal 2020 increased by 61.8 billion yen ($ 575 million) and amounted to 5.07 trillion yen ($ 47.2 billion).

Based on the Pentagon

Recall that the previous edition of the White Paper of the Japanese Ministry of Defense was published in September 2019. The content of the document noticeably echoes the current edition, it also spoke about the key importance of cybersecurity, space defense and electronic warfare. The importance of allied relations with Washington was also noted, and Russia's military activity in the Kuril Islands was condemned. As in the current edition of the White Paper, in the last defense report, both Russia and China were called "revisionist powers" competing with Japan's ally, the United States. 

It should be noted that the course to create their own space potential was set by the Ministry of Defense personally by the Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who previously announced the transformation of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces into aerospace forces. According to the Japanese newspaper Yomiuri, the creation of the Japanese Aerospace Forces is associated with the increase in space activity of other countries - the USA, Russia and China.

  • Shinzo Abe
  • Reuters
  • © Kim Kyung-Hoon / Pool

According to Valery Kistanov, Japan has the resources to implement space defense projects.

“Moreover, since Tokyo is cooperating with Washington, now the countries are jointly developing a new interceptor missile and intend to explore the moon together,” the expert noted.

This point of view is shared by Alexei Leonkov. According to the expert, Japan has great technological capabilities, but still conducts defense research together with the United States.

“For example, Tokyo, together with Washington, is developing hypersonic weapons, although it is posing as its national project, and is involved in defense research in the field of electromagnetic radiation. Now Japan has swung at a serious space program in the defense field. But it’s clear that without an American launch vehicle, Tokyo will not be able to advance. And for Washington, Japan is the forefront of the struggle with Beijing and Moscow, ”the expert noted.

Constitutional case

At the same time, Japan’s buildup of its military potential is limited by the obligations assumed by the country as a result of World War II. Since 1947, the Constitution has been in force in Japan, according to which a country cannot have a full-fledged armed forces. The functions performed in other countries by the army in Japan are assigned to the Self-Defense Forces created in 1954.

However, constitutional restrictions do not prevent Tokyo from building up its real defense potential. According to experts, by 2018, Japan has already firmly established itself in the top ten countries with the highest level of defense capabilities. By the number of Self-Defense Forces, Japan ranks fourth in the Asia-Pacific region - defense units number about 247 thousand people.

  • Helicopter carrier "Izumo"
  • AFP
  • © STR / JIJI PRESS

The Japanese Navy is considered one of the most powerful in the world, it even includes such large types of military vessels as helicopter carriers. Moreover, as noted in the current edition of the White Paper, Tokyo plans to convert the destroyer Izumo under take-off and landing of F-35B fighter-bombers. 

At the same time, calls for the revision of the constitution regarding the ban on the creation of a full-fledged army are getting louder in the country. Most actively this course is supported by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its leader Synzme Abe. 

As Valery Kistanov noted, so far Tokyo has not increased defense spending above 1% of GDP - such an obligation the Japanese authorities made earlier. However, in the political circles of Japan, there is talk that Tokyo should be able not only to defend itself, but also to launch a preemptive strike on the enemy’s bases - primarily the DPRK.

“Undoubtedly, Japan’s neighbors are concerned about the growth of Japanese defense power,” the expert added.

According to Alexei Leonkov, the changes Tokyo is making are also reflected in Russia's interests.

“All this also leads to more frequent flights and military exercises at the Russian borders. Therefore, Moscow is now considering the Far East as a direction that needs to be strengthened in the defense plan, ”the expert explained.

Leonkov recalled that Japan had already partially changed the law, allowing its forces to participate in foreign peacekeeping missions.

“Such missions provide, among other things, invaluable experience in studying the theater of operations in other regions. However, despite these trends, so far the military potential of Japan is being held in a defensive framework. But if the situation changes, then both Korea, China and Russia will have to think about strengthening their borders, ”the expert summed up.