陆上自卫队人员参加一月份在千叶县船桥市奈良濑演习场的年度军事演习。
Ground Self-Defense Force personnel take part in an annual military drill at the Narashino exercise field in Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture, in January.
政府和执政党自由民主党正加大力度改善自卫队员的工作条件和福利，因为人员短缺问题似乎将进一步恶化。
The government and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) are stepping up efforts to improve the working conditions and benefits of Self-Defense Forces (SDF) personnel, as a staff shortage appears set to worsen.
此举正值日本计划在今年年底修订三份关键国家安全和防御政策文件之前。
The move comes ahead of a planned revision to Japan’s three key national security and defense policy documents at the end of this year.
随着日本出生率持续下降，自卫队在招募足够人员方面面临越来越大的困难。政府和自民党官员担忧，人员短缺可能使日本加强防御能力变得更加困难。
As Japan’s birth rate continues to fall, the SDF is finding it increasingly difficult to recruit enough personnel. Government and LDP officials are concerned that a shortage of staff could make it harder for Japan to strengthen its defense capabilities.