arm-technology.com Military technology specialist media expect the next 5 years that #Japan will rise to the top 3 military powers after only the US-China But will ‘bilateral’ cooperation be responsible for world security -wide?
Military technology columnist Andrew Salerno-Garthwaite estimates that if Japan meets its budget targets in the next five years, it will move from political power The 5th or 7th strongest military in terms of defense spending budget, in the that order. It rose to third place in the world, behind only the United States and China.
According to GlobalData, Japan’s defense spending is expected to increase from $53.1 billion next year to $70.4 billion in 2027, an annual growth of 7.3%.
After the Second World War, Shigeru Yoshida, a Japanese diplomat and politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan from 1946 to 1947 and 1948 to 1954, adopted a policy of ‘parallel hedges’ by promoting relations with China and the United States. Throughout the Cold War successive Prime Ministers of Japan maintained their sovereignty by relying on the United States. It is mainly to support national defense and the economy. with restrictions on expanding their own military power that limit military spending to 1% of GDP
But at the end of the Cold War Tokyo wants to leave the United States. economically increased trade participation with China but at the same time back against deepening relations with Beijing. by strengthening military ties with the United States
At the end of Japan’s hedging era “Japan is not guarding its dependence on the United States. anymore,” said Dr. Christopher Hughes, Professor of Japanese Studies and International Politics. and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Warwick He said in an online discussion with the East-West Center on 7 September.
Japanese policy makers do not recognize the Yoshida doctrine. on economic diplomacy around the world and does not want to rely on the US military as an ongoing strategy to meet the defense and security challenges that Japan faces today.
Yoshida, the former prime minister, emphasizes economic development by giving second priority to military power in a contemporary, multipolar world with regional threats. The tendency of Japanese anti-military policies has gradually Lost support since 2015, Tokyo’s core strategy So it turned back to strengthening the bilateral alliance between the United States and Japan.
A new analysis of Japan’s military trajectories, presented by Hughes in his book Japan as a Global Military Power: New Capabilities, Alliance Integration, Bilateralism-Plus, argues that Japan is also responding to a challenging external security environment that is becoming “ more capable and reliable and – importantly – united with US allies.”
Efforts to modernize the military are to bring the Army, Navy and Air Force closer together. as well as entering a new domain including cyber and field operations.
Japan recently launched the Kawasaki P-1 in 2013, with 33 aircraft in service and 60 to replace the country’s P3-C fleet. Additionally, in 2013 Japan signed an agreement with Lockheed Martin for 42 F-35B fifth generation fighters, then an agreement was extended in 2019 to purchase a total of 105 F-35A and 42 F-35B.
In 2020, an agreement was signed with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as the lead developer for nearly 100 sixth-generation FX stealth fighters.
in naval territory Japan is expanding its capabilities by converting the Izumo-class helicopter carrier into an aircraft carrier capable of operating F-35B fighter jets. Its surface fleet has more than 40 warships and destroyers, including Sōryū-class submarines.
Tokyo is dedicated to the defense of the motherland. This is especially true of its southwestern islands which are at risk of Chinese invasion. Japan Self Defense Force (JSDF) and US Forces A chain defense begins to surround the island. and linking Taiwan’s defense potential Combined with the overall US strategy “Another important change is that Japan could, if necessary, shoulder some global responsibility,” Hughes said.
International Relations and Collective Responsibility
Hughes said: “An overly optimistic ally who hopes for more international cooperation. They may be disappointed if they hope that Japan will seek greater independence from the United States by organizing international security cooperation.
Japan turned its attention to a more national defense. This includes some level of regional protection. This is done through the alliance between the United States and Japan and the general security of the United States.
But while Tokyo is doing missions with allies. and expanded regional/global military cooperation that has increased in volume Basically, such efforts are designed to strengthen the United States. national defense center “Japan is becoming a global military power,” Hughes said, “but it is very specific and falls within these criteria.”
“Japan will go all over the world. It will make more trips with other allies, but it will do so to meet the needs of the US-Japan alliance. and only for the safety of their own homeland.”
change in style Bilateralism Plus and its ‘plug-and-play’ alliance signal a change from Yoshida’s principles. former prime minister became Abe’s principle.”
Japan has established defense-security relations with other countries. over the past decades with bilateral, multilateral or sub-level relationships These acted as extensions of the US-Japan alliance, using the alliance as a template for integrated deterrence.
“It’s ‘plug and play’ which can combine other partners. to a system of US-Japan-centered alliances,” Hughes said.
In a speech at the East-West Centre, Hughes acknowledged that Japanese relations are complex. Japan is trying to make itself ‘indispensable’ to China in more important areas, including technology and major investment.
However, Japan is well aware that China is Japan’s “enemy” in many areas, especially in terms of economic security. core technology key supply chain and rare minerals
Therefore, economic concerns must be considered in other priority contexts, Hughes argues. These things ultimately influence the decision. including the establishment of strict military policies in the Indo-Pacific
“Now China is crossing the red line for Japan’s national security. Is the disputed territory of Japan – China Whether it is Taiwan with a sea route All of them undermine the security of the United States. throughout the region This is a real situation for Japan at the moment,” said Dr Christopher Hughes, Professor of Japanese Studies and International Politics. and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Warwick
