Japan facing most complex security environment since WWII
USNI News
Japan facing most complex security environment since World War II, Warn Military Leaders
By Dzirhan Mahadzir
6 January 2025
A Japan Ground Self-Defense Force service members with Fire Leading Company, Field Artillery Battalion, Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade, conducts a 9-line close air support (CAS) brief while maneuvering to new positions during an urban CAS event at JGSDF Camp Yufuin, Oita, Japan, June 6, 2024. US Marine Corps Photo
Japan’s military chiefs are warning that the country faces its most severe and complex security environment since World War II, attributing the outlook to China, Russia, North Korea and instability in the Middle East.
The chiefs vowed to strengthen the Japanese military’s deterrence and response capabilities along with increasing cooperation with allies and like-minded countries in 2025 in their New Year’s message.
“Looking back on the past year, unfortunately, the international community has become even more divided and the situation has continued to deteriorate. The international community is on the brink of whether it can maintain a free and open international order based on the rule of law,” said Gen. Yoshihide Yoshida, chief of staff, Joint Staff, and Japan’s top military officer, in his message.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is now entering its third year, with Russia, having a superior capability to continue the war, now pushing the stalemated front line, Yoshida said. Meanwhile, in the Middle East, the conflict between Hamas and Israel in Gaza spread to Hezbollah, in Lebanon, and Iran, while a ceasefire is still not in sight despite the serious humanitarian situation in Gaza.
He added that in the Indo-Pacific region, dangerous acts by China against Philippine vessels and aircraft in the South China Sea have intensified year by year since August 2008 and, since August 2022, China frequently conducts exercises in the Taiwan Strait to intimidate Taiwan.
He also highlighted the passages of Chinese ships, including aircraft carrier CNS Liaoning (16) through Japan’s contiguous waters and Chinese survey ships violating Japanese territorial waters in addition to violations of Japan’s airspace on separate occasions by Chinese and Russian aircraft.
In response, the three services of the Japan Self-Defense Force (SDF) implemented and carried out vigilance and surveillance operations, demonstrating “deterrence by detection,” Yoshida said.
The Russia-North Korea alliance was rapidly strengthened, with North Korea dispatching troops to the Ukraine in addition to short-range ballistic missiles and other material to participate in the war, Yoshida said. In return, North Korea is said to be acquiring military technology from Russia, and there are concerns that this will have a variety of effects on the Korean Peninsula.
CNS Shandong launches aircraft in the Philippine Sea. JMSDF Photo
“As we have seen, the situations in Europe, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific are interconnected and becoming increasingly complex, uncertain, and unstable,” said Japan’s top military officer.
The Joint Staff Office will strengthen the Japanese military’s joint operational posture in 2025, establishing the Joint Operations Command in March, deploying “stand-off defense capability (counterattack capability)” from the end of Fiscal Year 2025, and improving cross-domain operations capabilities through joint exercises and other activities, Yoshida said.
He also stated that Japan would strengthen its cooperation with its partners and like-minded countries.
Similar sentiments on Japan’s security situation were echoed by the heads of Japan’s armed services, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Chief Gen. Yasunori Morishita, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Chief Adm. Akira Saito and Japan Air Self-Defense Force Chief Gen. Hiroaki Uchikura in their New Year messages.
The JASDF observed a series of airspace violations by Chinese and Russian military aircraft in addition to two days of joint flights by bombers of both militaries, Uchikura said.
Activities that threatened Japan’s security and gave rise to grave concerns, such as North Korean intermittent ballistic-missile launches, were repeatedly observed.
“Units of Koku-Jieitai (the Japanese official name of JASDF) have responded to those activities with composure, accurate decision-making and resolute attitude,” the JASDF chief said.
All three service chiefs vowed to strengthen deterrence and response capabilities of the Japanese military.
“This year, the third year of the Defense Buildup Program, the JGSDF will steadily promote efforts to improve the readiness of its units to respond to various contingencies and other issues, as well as to fundamentally strengthen its defense capabilities,” Morishita said.
“In particular, on the external front, we will further deepen our relations with our allies and comrades. In addition, recognizing that the security of Europe and the Indo-Pacific region are one and the same, we will welcome the deployment of navies of other countries to the Indo-Pacific region and promote the establishment of a support structure,” Saito said.
Saito also apologized for the various incidents in 2024 involving the JMSDF, which included the loss of two SH-60K helicopters in a mid-air collision, the loss of minesweeper JS Ukushima (MSC-686), the mishandling of classified information, fraudulent receipt of allowances and “other scandals that have significantly damaged the expectations and trust of the public.”
He added that the JMSDF was now conducting a study to make the JMSDF a stronger and more honest organization.
As part of the DBP, the JASDF will promote a fundamental reinforcement of defense capabilities, including the establishment of new units such as that for the F-35B, Uchikura said.
“Koku-Jieitai will also enhance interoperability and promote integration among ally and like-minded countries, while reinforcing deterrence and response capabilities through defense cooperation and exchanges,” the JASDF chief said.