日本将在修订版安全文件中纳入拒止防御Japan to include denial defense in revised security documents

TOKYO -- Japan plans to include denial defense in its revisions to three key security documents this year, putting more emphasis on using drones and long-range missiles to halt enemy approaches, aiming to align more closely with the U.S. government's current strategy in the region.

The government on Tuesday explained its framework for the revisions to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party. Denial defense was not included in the documents when they were last revised in 2022 under then-Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

The purpose of denial is to "prevent enemy operations from succeeding," said Ryo Hinata-Yamaguchi, associate professor of international security at Tokyo International University. For Japan, this could entail preventing landings on the Nansei Islands in the southwest, the area nearest to Taiwan.

The change is intended partly to bring Japan's strategy more in line with that of U.S. President Donald Trump's administration. Elbridge Colby, undersecretary of defense for policy and an influential figure in Asia policy, has emphasized the concept of deterrence by denial.

The U.S. National Defense Strategy released in January discusses building a "strong denial defense" along the first island chain -- which encompasses Okinawa, Taiwan and the Philippines -- in part by having allies and partners in the region bolster their defense capabilities.

Having Japan and the U.S. on the same page regarding their medium- to long-term strategies will make it easier to coordinate such details as operations, equipment and troop deployments.

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi met with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in the Philippines in late October. They touched on Japan's security document revisions and discussed strengthening denial defense.

"In terms of military scale, [Japan] is at a disadvantage to China," Hinata-Yamaguchi said. "Japan's capabilities are limited, and the key is how to make effective use of what it has." To bolster deterrence, Japan will work to build more effective partnerships with like-minded countries. It looks to deepen cooperation with Australia, South Korea and India, including on defending economically vital sea lanes.

The revisions will touch on such technological innovations as artificial intelligence, recognizing that the international community is in a period of fundamental change. The documents will set out six priorities: diplomacy, defense, economy, technology, intelligence and talent.

For the Self-Defense Forces, the focus will be on drones, long-range missiles, air defense networks and sustainability. More long-range missiles will be stockpiled, and the number of deployment locations increased, to enhance Japan's ability to fend off invasion from a distance.

Drone fleets will also be expanded to ease the peacetime burden on personnel handling surveillance in the field. In emergencies, they will assume roles that had been handled by humans, from information gathering to attack, to reduce the risk of harm from enemy attacks.

Japan will work to enhance AI to speed up decision-making. The technology is seen as key to coordination between the U.S. military and the SDF.

The strength of Japan's defense industry is crucial to its ability to keep fighting through prolonged conflicts. The country will look to stockpile sufficient ammunition and equipment during peacetime and ensure that domestic production can be ramped up quickly in conflicts, as well as build relationships with like-minded countries through exports.

SDF personnel will be considered the "core" of the nation's defense. Japan will broaden recruiting to ensure that the forces have enough members, while consolidating headquarters and units to free up more personnel for the front lines, and promote integrated operations across the ground, maritime and air branches. The SDF aims to partner with civilian hospitals to expand medical training it cannot handle on its own.