Our Future Security Environment - Coalition vs. Non-State Actors or Rogue Nations

Abstract

Abstract : Military Balance 2004-2005, published by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, stated that the only major populated region in which transnational Islamist terrorists have not been heavily active is East Asia. has not yet been attacked by radical transnational Islamic terrorists, and the few Japanese citizens who were involved in 9-11 and the bombing on Bali Island in Indonesia have been killed. But by the end of 2004, there had been six occasions on which Islamic radicals announced that would be the subject of a terrorist attack. Not limited to foreign-born terrorists, Japanese citizens have already suffered from chemical attacks by nonstate actors, like the Aum Shinrikyo in 1995. To cope with these nonstate threats, must fight against terrorism as part of an international coalition. The U.S.-Japan alliance of the last 50 years should be the basis for this coalition. Moreover, it is time to transform the U.S.-Japan alliance from one based on only defense of Japan or situations in areas surrounding Japan into one focused more on Japan's global role. On this occasion, must cooperate with other democratic countries. The author begins this paper on Japan's future security environment by reviewing the history of war from the end of the European Medieval period to today.