August 27, 2010
A government advisory panel has proposed a fundamental review of Japan's basic defense force policy, including its ban on the export of arms. It says a transformation of Cold War-era thinking is needed to deal more flexibly with complex contingencies.
The panel of academics submitted its report to Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Friday. The proposals will form the basis of further government studies to update the National Defense Program Guideline by the year-end.
The report expresses concern over the recent security environment surrounding Japan. In addition to threats posed by North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, the report refers to the modernization of China's military and its stepped-up naval activities in waters near Japan.
The report says that given the changing trends, Japan's Basic Defense Force Concept of prioritizing the size of deployments of troops and military hardware is no longer valid.
The report says such Cold War-era strategy should be replaced by a more dynamic and mobile approach to deterrence, through the active use of technology and intelligence.
Assuming a simultaneous contingency involving a ballistic missile and a terrorist attack, the report says the nation's Self-Defense Forces should strengthen their surveillance and intelligence-gathering capabilities, and that troops should be deployed to remote island regions.
Regarding the country's decades' old ban on the export of arms, the report urges a fundamental review, so that Japan can jointly develop and produce military equipment with other countries in addition to the United States.
The report also says that the nation's 3 non-nuclear principles of not producing, possessing or allowing the entry of nuclear arms is an issue that will come up for review in the future.
Prime Minister Kan said that the government will use the report as a reference, as it considers how to adapt to the changing international security environment.
2010/08/27 17:54(JST)
(JST: UTC+9hrs.)
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