Japan - International Studies of Strategic and Geopolitics

US, Japan Sign Agreement for Operational Collaboration on Cybersecurity

7Jan

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Cybersecurity

US, Japan Sign Agreement for Operational Collaboration on Cybersecurity

The United States and Japan have signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen their operational collaboration on cybersecurity, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The memorandum was signed by Japan’s Trade Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas during their meeting in Washington on Friday, DHS said in a statement. According to the DHS, the agreement will allow their agencies to enhance the security of critical infrastructure, foster more partnership opportunities, and continue sharing best practices with Indo-Pacific partners on cybersecurity. “We will work closely to harmonize security systems between Japan and the United States for software and IoT devices, including cooperation in human resource developm...

Economics key to Japan’s new security strategy

3Jan

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Asia

Economics key to Japan’s new security strategy

Russian reduction of energy exports and Western sanctions show importance of ‘weaponization of interdependence’ Economic security, or keizai anpo, continues to loom large in the Japanese strategic debate. Since 2019, the Japanese government has rapidly put in place new positions, organizations and bills related to economic security. According to Takayuki Kobayashi, former minister for economic security, the term refers to securing “the Japanese state and national interest through economic measures.” To achieve this objective, the Japanese parliament passed the Economic Security Promotion Act in 2022 to strengthen supply chain resilience, protect critical infrastructure, develop emerging technologies and prevent technology outflow. There’s a history to this It is not the first time t...

Why Japan’s Missile Defense Requires ‘Counterstrike Capabilities’

28Dec

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Missile Defense

Why Japan’s Missile Defense Requires ‘Counterstrike Capabilities’

Japan’s strike capability debate must be accompanied by the political will of decision-makers. By Kenji Nagayoshi * As Japan prepares to release three critical security documents – its National Security Strategy, National Defense Program Guidelines, and Medium-Term Defense Program – by the end of 2022, its policymakers have been discussing Japan’s acquisition of strike capabilities in the context of missile defense. The debate about adopting “counterstrike capabilities” – formerly known as “enemy base strike capabilities” – accelerated exponentially when the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) Research Commission on Security proposed that Japan must consider acquiring such capabilities to deter missile attacks. Although this active discussion reflects the severe regional security en...

Japan’s record defense budget raises concerns: FM spokesperson

27Dec

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Defense Budget

Japan’s record defense budget raises concerns: FM spokesperson

China is concerned about the significant increase in Japan's defense budget, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday, urging the Japanese side to speak and act prudently in the military and security fields. Spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks at a regular press conference in response to reports that the Japanese government on Dec. 23 agreed on a record defense budget of 6.8 trillion yen (about 51 billion U.S. dollars) for fiscal year 2023. Wang said Japan is playing up regional tensions to seek military breakthroughs, which is dangerous and has aroused strong doubts among its Asian neighbors and in the international community about whether Japan can adhere to an exclusively defense-oriented policy and path of peaceful development. "The Japanese side should seriously reflec...