Page 17 - 2020 Defence White Paper
P. 17

and the world that the country overcame COVID-19, and is seeking to expand its
               influence through active disinfection and quarantine support for the international      Chapter 1
               community while emphasizing the superiority of its system.
                 Japan is adhering to the principle of maintaining the "exclusively defense-oriented
                                                                                     13)
               policy"  based on its pacifist Constitution. However, it is also seeking to shift to a   It is a passive defense
                     13)
               more proactive defense policy under the reasoning of "proactive pacifism based on   strategy in accordance
                                                                                     with the spirit of the Peace
               the principles of international cooperation"  to provide safety for Japan and realize   Constitution. According
                                                 14)
                                                                                     to this strategy, defense
               peace, stability, and prosperity in the international community. In addition, Japan is   forces are utilized only
                                                                                     when attacked by the other
               aiming to enhance its operational capabilities in space, cyber, and electromagnetics   party, and the use and
                                                                                     sustainment of defense
               through "multidimensional integrated defense"  based on its "multidimensional   forces is limited to a
                                                      15)
                                                                                     minimum within the scope
               joint defense force" concept, reflecting the changes in the security environment   necessary for self-defense.
               including North Korea̓s nuclear and missile development and China’s military   14)
                                                                                     Fundamental ideology of
               buildup.                                                              national security written in
                                                                                     Japan’s National Security
                 Russia continues to strengthen its defense capabilities by modernizing its military   Strategy, The idea is that
                                                                                     Japan should contribute to
               force and developing nuclear and space weapons while strengthening its strategic   securing peace, stability,
                                                                                     and prosperity of the
               cooperation with China within Northeast Asia. Meanwhile, disputes with the US   international community
               over the withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty and the   more proactively than ever
                                                                                     in line with its national
               New START (US–Russia Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) are deepening.  power.
                                                                                     15)
                                                                                     Ability to carry out cross-
                                                                                     domain operations by
                                                                                     enhancing the overall
               2.  Defense Policies and Military Trends of Neighboring Countries     capability through the
                                                                                     synergy of organically
                                                                                     integrating the capabilities
                                                                                     of all areas including new
               The US maintains its strategic and military superiority in Northeast Asia while   areas such as space,
                                                                                     cyber, and electronic
               China, Japan, and Russia are vying to build up their military strength, mainly their   warfare in addition to
                                                                                     existing areas such as
               naval and air forces. [Chart 1-1] summarizes the military strength of the four major   land, sea, and air (Source:
                                                                                     Japanese Defense White
               powers that are surrounding the Korean Peninsula.                     Paper)


























                                                          Chapter 1.  Changes and Challenges in the Security Environment    15
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