The

Government of Japan The Government of Japan is the central government of Japan. It consists of legislative, executive (government), executive and judiciary branches and functions under the framework established by the Constitution of Japan. Japan is a unitary st ...

has implemented a series of measures to enhance its security policy. These include the establishment of the

National Security Council A national security council (NSC) is usually an executive branch governmental body responsible for coordinating policy on national security issues and advising chief executives on matters related to national security. An NSC is often headed by a n ...

(NSC), the adoption of the National Security Strategy (NSS), and the formulation of National Defense Program Guidelines (NDPG). These efforts were predicated on the belief that Japan needs to contribute more actively to the peace and stability of Asia and the international community while coordinating with other allied nations.

National Security Council (NSC)

On December 4, 2013, the

was established to serve as a forum for discussion on national security issues. Chaired by Japan's

Prime Minister A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...

, the NSC was created to facilitate high-level consultations on critical matters affecting Japan's security.

National Security Strategy (NSS)

On December 17, 2013, National Security Strategy was adopted through a

Cabinet Cabinet or The Cabinet may refer to: Furniture * Cabinetry, a box-shaped piece of furniture with doors and/or drawers * Display cabinet, a piece of furniture with one or more transparent glass sheets or transparent polycarbonate sheets * Filin ...

decision. The NSS outlines the fundamental direction of Japan’s diplomatic and defence policies concerning national security. It emphasizes the principle of "Proactive Contribution to Peace" and seeks to enhance understanding of Japan’s national security objectives. On April 1, 2024, 16 civilian airports and seaports were designated for use by the Self-Defence Forces (SDF) and

Japan Coast Guard The is the coast guard responsible for the protection of the Geography of Japan#Composition, topography and geography, coastline of Japan under the oversight of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. It consists of about ...

, with part of the national budget reserved for improving the peacetime use of these facilities. These changes aim to bolster military readiness in response to global developments such as

Russia's invasion of Ukraine On 24 February 2022, , starting the largest and deadliest war in Europe since World War II, in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, conflict between the two countries which began in 2014. The fighting has caused hundreds of thou ...

and potential contingencies involving Taiwan.

Budget

In 1976, Prime Minister

Miki Takeo was a Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan from 1974 to 1976. A native of Tokushima Prefecture, Miki was educated at Meiji University and the University of Southern California. He was first elected to the National Diet in ...

announced defense spending should not exceed 1% of Japan's

gross domestic product Gross domestic product (GDP) is a monetary measure of the total market value of all the final goods and services produced and rendered in a specific time period by a country or countries. GDP is often used to measure the economic performanc ...

(GDP), a ceiling that was observed until 1986. As of 2005, Japan's

military A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. Militaries are typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with their members identifiable by a d ...

budget was maintained at about 3% of the national budget. About half of the military budget is spent on personnel costs, while the rest is reserved for

weapon A weapon, arm, or armament is any implement or device that is used to deter, threaten, inflict physical damage, harm, or kill. Weapons are used to increase the efficacy and efficiency of activities such as hunting, crime (e.g., murder), law ...

s programs, maintenance, and operating costs. As of 2023, Japan has the tenth largest defense budget in the world. The defense budget for the fiscal year of 2025 is ¥8.705 trillion, an increase of 9.7% from the previous year.

References

*
Japan

National Security Council (NSC)

National Security Strategy (NSS)

Budget

References

See also