Japan's Security Policy

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Conclusions * Uncertainty remains in Asia-Pacific region years after collapse of Soviet Union. Several nations in region are expanding or modernizing their military capabilities. Continuing tension on Korean peninsula, as well as proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems add, to region's instability. * Based on the Defense Program Outline in and after FY 1996, Japan is reshaping its defense capability, but it remains committed to four fundamentals: it maintains an exclusively defense-oriented policy, avoids developing military capabilities that might threaten other countries, adheres to non-nuclear principles, and upholds civilian control of military. * The Japan-U.S. Joint Declaration on Security: Alliance for 21st Century in April 1996 reaffirmed importance of Japan-U.S. Security Arrangements. The declaration addressed bilateral cooperative efforts designed to increase credibility of security relationship and initiation of a review of 1978 Guidelines for Japan-U.S. Defense Cooperation. * North Korea's missile launch in August 1998 awakened most Japanese to military threats facing Japan and stimulated discussion on Guideline-related bills and on legal issues concerning emergency situations. * The Japan Self-Defense Forces (SDF) need to develop joint operational expertise and overall intelligence capabilities for dealing with emergency situations. The SDF also needs to use defense diplomacy to help develop a more stable regional security environment. Japan's Basic Defense Policies Following World War II Japan's Imperial Army and Navy were dissolved, and old regime was replaced with a democratic government. Article 9 of new Constitution of Japan renounced war or even possessing combat potential. However, Cold War and Korean War forced Japan to reestablish defensive capabilities. A constitutional interpretation of Article 9 grants Japan inherent right of self-defense and possession of minimum armed strength needed to exercise that right. The Government of Japan (GOJ) viewpoint has been that building forces to defend region, even under a collective defense umbrella, exceeds minimum necessary strength required for self-defense of The GOJ has maintained SDF, improved its defensive capability, and conducted operations, in accordance with four fundamentals. Exclusively Defense-Oriented Policy. This policy means that defense forces cannot be used until an armed attack on Japan is initiated by another country, and that use of such forces is kept to minimum necessary for self-defense. Moreover, defense capability of Japan must be limited to minimum necessary level. Not Posing a Military Threat to other Countries. Japan will possess, beyond minimum necessary level for self-defense, military forces strong enough to pose a military threat to other countries. Adhering to Three Non-Nuclear Principles. The three non-nuclear principles include: not possessing nuclear weapons, producing them and permitting their introduction in Japan. Japan ratified Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1976, placing itself under obligation, as a non-nuclear weapon state, to produce or acquire nuclear weapons. Ensuring Civilian Control of Military. The democratic government maintains control of military. Due to regrettable situations in Japan in pre-World War II era, it has adopted an uncompromising system of civilian controls. Defense Program Outline in and after FY 1996 Until FY 1995, Japan had been improving its defense capability pursuant to 1976 National Defense Program Outline (NDPO). The SDF has played increasingly diverse roles in dealing with large-scale disasters and contributing towards a more stable security environment by participating in international peace cooperation activities, in addition to its principal mission of defending …