Japanese Media Reports: Kaohsiung's Expansion of Defense Intentions Triggers Resistance Emotions

Reference News Network reported on February 14 According to Japan's Asahi Shimbun on February 12, under the leadership of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan won a majority of seats in the House of Representatives election. Given Takaichi's advocacy for "fundamentally strengthening defense capabilities," some insiders in the Ministry of Defense and the Self-Defense Forces believe that the defense expansion policy will accelerate. However, they also worry that, based on the current organizational structure and environment, the policy implementation process may not keep pace with Takaichi's ambitions.

Since taking office last autumn, the Takaichi government has completed its goal of raising defense spending to 2% of GDP ahead of schedule and has increased this fiscal year's defense budget to approximately 11 trillion yen (about 71.8 billion USD). Considering plans for further budget expansion, the Liberal Democratic Party promised during the campaign to "build a defense system that adapts to the new era."

Reports indicate that among those related to the Ministry of Defense, an increasing number believe that, in light of the military situation in the surrounding areas, the procurement of defense equipment and the establishment of additional organizational structures will accelerate. While the treatment of Self-Defense Forces personnel is expected to improve, there are also concerns that, based on the current reality, some policies may be difficult to implement.

The large-scale deployment of drones is one such issue. The Japanese government has proposed a so-called "shield concept" aimed at defending coastal areas, and has allocated over 100 billion yen in the next fiscal year's budget for the procurement of the first batch of attack drones, totaling several thousand units. Takaichi also articulated her vision during the election, stating that the use of drones would further prepare for the formation of "new combat methods."

However, according to insiders from the Ministry of Defense, a true operational environment or combat concept for drone warfare has not yet been established.

Drone combat training requires large areas of land; in the United States, training grounds can even exceed the size of the 23 wards of Tokyo. In contrast, Japan's training grounds are small, and if a drone goes out of control during training, it could crash onto civilian land. Using electromagnetic signals to suppress enemy drones is also a form of attack, but related training could damage nearby residents' smartphones and televisions.

Reports indicate that the practice of introducing equipment without a clear combat plan is referred to by some inside and outside the Ministry of Defense as "good in appearance but useless in practice."

Additionally, the goal of "having next-generation powered vessels" proposed when the Liberal Democratic Party and the Japan Innovation Party formed a coalition government has raised concerns. This move aims to promote the introduction of nuclear submarines, but there is considerable resistance within the Ministry of Defense regarding this.

Nuclear-powered submarines can operate underwater for extended periods, and their larger size means they can carry long-range missiles. However, this has raised questions about whether they comply with the Basic Atomic Energy Law, which advocates for the peaceful use of nuclear energy. Furthermore, the number of personnel required for larger submarines is about twice that of conventional submarines.

Reports indicate that the Japan Self-Defense Forces face a personnel shortfall of up to 20,000 each year, with the Maritime Self-Defense Force particularly suffering from severe shortages. Due to their confined spaces, submarines are considered the most challenging workplaces. The government has proposed measures to improve the salary and treatment of Self-Defense Forces personnel, but recruiting and training high-quality professionals capable of operating nuclear reactors will still take time. (Translation/ Liu Lin)