Page 23 - 2020 Defence White Paper

direct attacks to Japan. Should Japan deem a situation to significantly affect Japan,
Japan may now provide rear-area support including refueling and munitions supply Chapter 1
not only to the US forces, but also to other nations’ forces without geographical
limitations. The range of JSDF activities and types of missions have been extended to
include rescue operations for overseas Japanese nationals, protection of US and other
foreign troops in action with the JSDF, and security assistance and escort missions
in the context of peacekeeping operations (PKO). In addition, Japan is improving
its operational capabilities in space, cyber, and electromagnetic fields by building
a "multidimensional integrated defense capability", reflecting the rapidly changing
security environment including North Korea’s nuclear and missile development
and China’s military buildup. To that end, Japan established the "multidimensional
integrated defense force establishment committee" headed by the Minister of
Defense in March 2019, and is seeking to improve its defense capabilities.
The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) is strengthening its high-level
mobility and surveillance capabilities to promptly respond to various contingencies
in Japan’s territorial islands. In April 2018, the JGSDF established the Ground
Central Command for the rapid and flexible employment of its divisions and
23)
brigades; deployed coastal observation units, surface-to-ship and surface-to-air

missile units near Senkaku/Diaoyudao Islands; and launched the Amphibious
Rapid Deployment Brigade tasked with amphibious operations. A cyber unit and
an electromagnetic field operations unit were newly organized under the Ground
Central Command to strengthen operational capabilities in new areas.
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) has been upgrading the response
24)
capabilities of its frigate f eet and carrying out force buildup for its submarine and
fixed-wing patrol aircraft units in order to defend its coastal waters and secure sea 23)
It is an operations
lanes. command-level unit in
charge of the rapid and
The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) is maintaining air alert and control flexible unified operation of
the JGSDF’s units across
units for full-time surveillance of the airspace around Japan. In April 2014, the the country. It is equivalent
to the ROK Army’s Ground
JASDF founded the E-2C equipped Airborne Early Warning Group in Okinawa and Operations Command.
increased the number of F-15 f ghter aircraft units in January 2016 to strengthen the 24)
In its force buildup efforts,
defense posture in the southwestern region. Japan is pursuing the expansion of its air by 2023, the JMSDF will
defense capabilities and operational radius through the introduction of a total of 147 increase the number of
frigates from 47 to 54,
F-35s which include the existing 42 F-35s and an addition of 42 F-35Bs capable of that of Aegis destroyers
from 6 to 8, that of patrol
short-distance takeoff and vertical landing, and by newly establishing air refueling helicopters from 76 to 80,
and that of submarines
and transport units and unmanned aerial vehicle units. from 16 to 22.
In order to respond in space, cyber, and electromagnetic fields, Japan is 25)
Space Situational
establishing an SSA system to secure stable use of space and improve capabilities Awareness.
25)

Chapter 1. Changes and Challenges in the Security Environment