Latest news with #WhitePapers
Japan Forward
7 days ago
- Politics
- Japan Forward
Japan's 2025 Defense White Paper – Hoping for a Surprise
Japan's 2025 Defense White Paper will soon be formally approved by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's Cabinet. It's not quite fair to say that if you've seen one White Paper, you've seen them all. But one can pretty much anticipate what's coming – while hoping for something noteworthy. The White Papers accurately describe the military/political threats to Japan. And for some years now, the White Papers have explicitly declared the People's Republic of China as the main problem. Also, in recent years, the White Papers have expressed concern over Chinese and Russian military cooperation and activities ー in the region and around Japan. Taiwan will get a mention as a potential flash point, threatening Japan's and regional security. But there will be no specific mention of Japanese support to improve Taiwan's defenses. That's left up to the United States ー although Japan's aid to the Philippines (that will be mentioned in the White Paper) is intended to contribute to Taiwan's defense. When it comes to Taiwan, Tokyo is leaving the hard work up to the Americans. It would be nice if the White Paper says otherwise. Although the White Papers competently lay out the threats facing Japan, they come up short on the 'what to do about it' front. It's not that they don't try. 2024 Defense White Paper However, typically, White Papers call for buying some of this and some of that ー as if buying more and specific hardware will solve Japan's defense problems and frighten off enemies. There will be some more ships and more aircraft on order. Also, in recent years, its long-range missiles have been the big thing. This is the so-called 'counterstrike capability' that is the panacea for Japan's defense. The White Paper needs to ー but probably won't ー describe a comprehensive, coherent plan for Japan's defense. That would include proper and adequate hardware, more personnel, better force organization, command and control, funding, war stocks, reserve force, logistics, casualty handling, ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance), etc. Those are all things that make the Japan Self Defense Force (JSDF) more, rather than less, of the sum of its parts. And watch to see if the White Paper discusses how JSDF and United States forces will operate together more effectively — including combat operations? It probably won't, other than platitudes about Japan's new Joint Operations Command representing a sea change of some sort. There will also be a discussion of improving the terms of service and living conditions of JSDF personnel, as there always is. It's well-intentioned, but it won't be drastic enough to solve JSDF's severe manpower problems. What would? A huge pay increase. Much better housing. Decent pensions and something akin to the American GI Bill that offers lifetime benefits for veterans. And a little respect for JSDF personnel from Japan's ruling class would be nice. Defense Minister Gen Nakatani (right) and US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. March 29, Ogasawara Village, Tokyo. The White Paper will also describe Japan's efforts to strengthen relationships with other friendly nations through formal agreements, exercises, and exchanges. These are positive developments ー especially given Japan's longtime refusal to do much on this score until recent years. But it's not enough to really bolster Japan's defense. The US military tie-up is still indispensable. Japan's missile defense and space operations will get a mention ー and this is a true bright spot. Japan has quietly developed a real capability here. All in all, the successive White Papers are clearly written and accurately describe threats facing Japan. But the prescriptions are, overall, piecemeal and don't usefully address Japan's fundamental defense shortcomings. Do everything in the White Paper, and Japan and the JSDF still wouldn't be able to fight a war ー or at least not very well. Since the Ministry of Defense has no real experience in this, it would do well to consult with people who do.. Asking USINDOPACOM to send over a few good war planners would be a start. And then White Papers might be more interesting. Author: Grant Newsham Grant Newsham is a retired US Marine officer and former US diplomat. He is the author of the book When China Attacks: A Warning To America . Find his articles on JAPAN Forward .
AllAfrica
09-07-2025
- Politics
- AllAfrica
If only we could expect surprises in Japan's Defense White Paper
Japan's 2025 Defense White Paper soon will be approved formally by the Cabinet. It's not quite fair to say that if you've seen one White Paper you've seen them all, but one can pretty much anticipate what's coming – while hoping for something noteworthy. The White Papers accurately describe the military/political threats to Japan – and for some years now the White Papers have explicitly declared the People's Republic of China as the main problem. Also, in the last few years the White Papers have expressed concern over Chinese and Russian military cooperation and activities in the region and around Japan. Taiwan will get a mention as a potential flash point threatening Japan's and regional security. But there will be no specific mention of Japanese support to improve Taiwan's defenses. That's left up to the United States – although Japan's aid to the Philippines (that will be mentioned in the White Paper) is intended to contribute to Taiwan's defense. When it comes to Taiwan, Tokyo is leaving the hard work up to the Americans. It would be nice if the White Paper said otherwise. Although the White Papers competently lay out the threats facing Japan, they come up short on the 'what to do about it' front. It's not that they don't try. But typically, White Papers call for buying some of this and some of that – as if buying more and specific hardware would solve Japan's defense problems and frighten off enemies. There will be some more ships and more aircraft on order. And, in recent years, it's long-range missiles that are the big thing. This is the so-called 'counterstrike capability' that is the panacea for Japan's defense. The White Paper needs to – but probably won't – describe a comprehensive, coherent plan for Japan's defense that includes: proper and adequate hardware; more personnel; better force organization, command and control, funding, war stocks, reserve force, logistics, casualty handling and ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance), etc. that makes the Japan Self Defense Force (JSDF) more, rather than less, of the sum of its parts. And watch to see if the White Paper talks about how the Japan Self-Defense Forces and US forces will operate together more effectively – to include combat operations. It probably won't, other than offering platitudes about Japan's new Joint Operations Command representing a sea-change of some sort. There will also be discussion of improving terms of service and living conditions of JSDF personnel. There always is. It's well-intentioned but won't be drastic enough to solve JSDF's severe manpower problems. What would? A huge pay increase, much better housing, decent pensions and something akin to the United States' GI Bill that offers lifetime benefits for veterans. And a little respect for JSDF personnel from Japan's ruling class would be nice. The White Paper will also describe Japan's efforts to strengthen relationships with other friendly nations through formal agreements, exercises, and exchanges. These are positive developments – especially given Japan's longtime refusal to do much on this score until recent years. But it's not enough to bolster Japan's defense in a major way. The US military tie-up is still indispensable. Japan's missile defense and space operations will get a mention – and this is a true bright spot. Japan has, quietly, developed a real capability here. All in all, the White Papers are clearly written, and they accurately describe threats facing Japan. But the prescriptions are, overall, piecemeal and don't usefully address Japan's fundamental defense shortcomings. Do everything in the White Paper and Japan and the JSDF still wouldn't be able to fight a war – or at least not very well. Since the Ministry of Defense has no real experience at this, it would do well do consult with people who do. Asking USINDOPACOM to send over a few good war planners would be a start. And then White Papers might be more interesting. Grant Newsham is a retired US Marine officer and former US diplomat. He was the first Marine liaison officer to the Japan Self Defense Force, and is a fellow at the Center for Security Policy and the Yorktown Institute. He is the author of the book When China Attacks: A Warning to America.
The Hindu
15-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Those involved in Andhra Pradesh liquor scam will not go unpunished, says Excise Minister Kollu Ravindra
Excise Minister Kollu Ravindra has alleged that the media houses of former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy are spreading falsehoods on the liquor scam as the skeletons have started tumbling out of his party (YSRCP) leaders' closet following the SIT investigation. No one involved in the scam would be able to escape unpunished, Mr. Ravindra said while addressing the media at the TDP central office on Thursday. Mr. Ravindra said that Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy should remember that the former Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi had been arrested in the Delhi liquor scam, which pales in comparison with the multi-crore A.P. liquor scam. The SIT would expose all those who caused a huge dent to the public exchequer by their actions in the sale of liquor. He said the sale of Non-Duty Paid Liquor in the government outlets caused a huge loss, and reputed brands were pushed off the shelves and, in their place, cheap liquor, made at chosen distilleries, were sold at high prices. Moreover, there was a bar on digital payments, which resulted in embezzlement of thousands of crores of rupees as only cash was accepted in the liquor outlets. The NDA Government laid bare all the related facts through its White Papers. All the accused going to prison was only a matter of time. Mr. Ravindra further said the media houses under Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy's control were giving an impression that YSRCP MP P.V. Mithun Reddy, Raj Kasireddy, Govindappa Balaji and K. Dhanunjaya Reddy, among others, were innocent in spite of the emergence of concrete evidence of their involvement. Ten liquor depots were pledged and about ₹13,000 crore raised out of them diverted and orders placed for only 43 brands between 2019-24, Mr. Ravindra alleged, and suggested to the YSRCP leaders to be prepared to go behind the bars.
