Page 13 - 2020 Defence White Paper

their borders rather than deal with the disease in close cooperation with regional
partners and international organizations. This tendency is becoming a factor that Chapter 1
weakens international solidarity and multilateral security cooperation against a
variety of security threats.
Meanwhile, transnational and non-military security threats such as cyber
threats, terrorism, and natural and man-made disasters continue to pose threats
to international security. In a situation where telework, telemedicine, and remote
education are becoming more common in various sectors of society and the
dependency on digital technologies is intensifying in an effort to prevent the spread
of COVID-19, cyber-attacks are on the rise in proportion to the development of
information and communication technologies (ICT). Despite the COVID-19
situation, international terrorism continues to cause unrest as seen by the
reorganization of ISIS and al-Qaeda and instigation of terrorism targeting the
2)
western world. Meanwhile, hijacking sailors and other acts of piracy are drastically
increasing due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and deepening economic
difficulties. As shown by the catastrophic Australian bushfires and the South African
super cyclone in 2019, along with the volcanic eruption in the Philippines and the
earthquake in Turkey in 2020, natural disasters and catastrophes continue to wreak
havoc around the world. Forecasting natural disasters is difficult and damages caused
by natural disasters are becoming greater and greater. Accordingly, with limitations
in relief and recovery efforts by the disaster-stricken country alone, more emphasis is
being placed on the need for international cooperation and support.

2. Ever-present Traditional Threats

Conflicts persist due to arms races and geopolitical factors among the powerful
nations, and so do security threats due to traditional causes of conflict such as
territory and religion in various regions around the world as well.
In the Asia-Pacific region, the US and China continue to carry out military
activities that have perceived intentions to keep the other side in check. In addition,
there’s a possibility that the strategic competition between the US and Russia over
issues such as arms control will intensify as seen by the scrapping of the INF
3)
by the US The conflict over jurisdiction of the border area west of the Himalayas 2)
Islamic State of Iraq and
between China and India is still ongoing with a bloody clash between the two nations Syria.
occurring in June 2020. 3)
Intermediate-range Nuclear
The European region faces a variety of internal and external challenges including Forces Treaty.

Chapter 1. Changes and Challenges in the Security Environment 11