A new course for Japan's security policy: The historic decision on military armament

Bericht

In recent weeks, Japan's government under Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has im­plemented significant adjustments to the country's security policy. In December 2022, Tokyo published a new National Security Strategy along with two other defence-related strategic documents. In doing so, the government decided, among other things, to significantly increase Japan's defence budget to 2 per cent of its gross domestic product by fiscal year 2027. During bilateral alliance meetings in mid-January 2023, Japan and the United States addressed the implications of the new strategic documents and discussed possibilities for closer cooperation. By making far-reaching decisions such as on the acquisition of so-called counter-strike capabilities, Tokyo is seeking to respond to a rapidly deteriorating security environment. Even though some of the announced steps are indeed historic for Japan, they have been the topic of discussion for a while now and can therefore be seen as part of the evolution of Japanese security policy that has been occurring for years.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: SWP Comment ; No. 13/2023

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Politik
• Subject: Japan ; National Security Strategy ; National Security Secretariat ; Defense Buildup Program ; Defence Buildup Program ; Abe Shinzo ; Nakasone Yasuhiro ; Yamaguchi Natsuo ; Fumio Kishida ; Suga Yoshihide ; Indo-Pacific ; Kuril Islands ; counter-strike capabilitiy ; collective self-defence ; Cyber Security

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Sakaki, Alexandra
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP)
• (where): Berlin
• (when): 2023

Further information

• DOI: doi:10.18449/2023C13
• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/269242
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:44 AM CET