Photo/Illutration Troops advance after disembarking from a Ground Self-Defense Force helicopter at the Kirishima training area straddling Kagoshima and Miyazaki prefectures on May 15, 2021. (Sunao Gushiken)

The National Security Strategy (NSS), which represents Japan’s basic policy on national security, is being revised for the first time in nine years.

The Kishida administration has started consulting experts with the intention of completing the revision within this year, concurrently with a new National Defense Program Guideline and Medium Term Defense Program.

The main issues of discussion will include: Japan’s assessment of China with respect to Beijing’s continued aggressive challenge to the established order, including its acts of provocation against Taiwan; preparations during the current Diet session to enact a law on promoting economic security; and enabling Japan to possess the capability to stage pre-emptive strikes against enemy bases.

The NSS was approved in 2013 by Shinzo Abe when he was prime minister. It is intended to address growing threats to the security environment posed by China’s growing presence and North Korea’s nuclear and missile development programs.

With the stated fundamental principle of collaborating with the United States and other key allies, the NSS called for a “proactive pacifism based on the spirit of international cooperation” by steadily upgrading Japan’s defense capabilities and strengthening its alliance with the United States.     

Considering the developments that came after its establishment in 2013, there is no question that the NSS reinforced Japan’s tendency toward greater reliance on armed force in its security policy.

Those developments include 2015 security legislation that allowed partial exercise of the right to collective self-defense; the continued bloating of defense expenditures to record highs; and the remodeling of an escort vessel into an aircraft carrier in contravention of the “defense only” principle.

With China’s emergence in mind, Japan bolstered its relations with nations of Oceania and Europe that share the same universal values. On the other hand, no progress was made in some of the “strategic approaches” called for by the NSS, such as closer collaboration with South Korea, promoting exchanges with China on defense issues and establishing a framework for averting unexpected crisis situations.   

In revising the NSS, it is vital to closely examine how various issues have been handled to date and consider what must be done to improve Japan’s security environment. This will allow the NSS to function as a truly comprehensive strategic guideline that can be used by both the defense and foreign ministries.

Most importantly, the task must involve experts from a range of fields, including those from the private sector. The deliberative process should be kept as transparent as possible to win the understanding of the public.

At the time of the NSS’s establishment, a panel of experts met and the minutes of the gathering were disclosed.

This time, experts will not be conferring together, and no disclosure is planned. 

But since Kishida’s slogan is “Diplomacy and security with the people,” he should disclose as much as he can about how experts view the situation over the longer term.

Referring to the NSS during a recent plenary session of the Lower House, Kishida said, “I intend to explain (such matters) to the people and the Diet on various occasions and as thoroughly as possible.”

If he meant what he said, we request that he consider holding Diet deliberations before the National Security Council and the Cabinet make their decisions.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Feb. 9

Related News