SDF activities expand 10 years after key security legislation
Japan has enhanced cooperation with its ally, the United States, and other friendly nations in the face of challenges such as China's maritime expansion. At the same time, it is increasingly important to strengthen civilian control over the SDF as their role grows.
"The steady implementation of security and defense cooperation, whose expansion has been made possible by the peace and security legislation, will contribute more actively to regional and international peace and security," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said at a news conference Wednesday, exactly 10 years after the Cabinet approved the legislation on May 14, 2015.
"Conveying to the world that the Japan-U.S. alliance is fully functioning will further increase deterrence," then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe emphasized at a news conference that day.
The legislation was enacted that September and took effect in March 2016, marking a major shift in Japan's post-World War II security policy.
In addition to enabling the partial exercise of the collective self-defense rights, the legislation granted new duties to the SDF, such as protecting other countries' military vessels and aircraft, and coming to the aid of those under attack during U.N.-sponsored peacekeeping operations.
The legislation "increased things we can do and brought us closer to the global standard," a senior SDF official said. "We are more confident in our relationships with other countries."
The SDF have provided protection to U.S. forces every year since 2017 and did this to the Australian military for the first time in 2021. Tokyo is preparing to offer this kind of support to the British military as well.
Joint exercises with foreign militaries have "increased significantly compared with 10 years ago," a Ground SDF official said.
The legislation lifted geographical constraints on SDF activities in situations deemed to have a grave impact on Japan's peace and security, enabling the SDF to provide logistical support to U.S. and other forces not only near Japan, but around the world, therefore expanding the scope of SDF operations on a global scale.
In its three key national security-related documents compiled in 2022, the government clarified the country's intention to possess counterstrike capability, or the ability to strike enemy bases. It is also seeking to drastically boost Japan's defense capabilities, including by raising its defense spending to the equivalent of 2% of its gross domestic product by fiscal 2027.
Launching the Joint Operations Command in March this year, the SDF are working to improve command and control cooperation with U.S. forces. But Japanese opposition parties worry this move may effectively bring the SDF under the command of the U.S. military.
Also, deeper cooperation with foreign militaries expands the duties of SDF members, possibly putting their lives at greater risks.
"Laws merely decide the framework," a senior SDF official said. "We may choose not to do things that are allowed, and civilian control will become more important."
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