While China’s military rise and development may be grabbing headlines, Japan’s military is also very advanced and undergoing both policy and structural reforms. Thus, the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research recently held a conference on Japan’s defense outlook titled, “Asia's most lethal military? What Abe's defense plans mean for Japan and the region.” The experts discussed defense policy changes, legal restructuring, and modernization efforts of the Japanese Defense Force (JDF). The panel included AEI resident fellow Mackenzie Eaglen, CNAS Deputy Director of the Asia-Pacific Security Program Ely Ratner, and Carnegie Endowment for International Peace senior associate James Schoff. AEI’s own Michael Auslin, director of Japan Studies, moderated the event.
Schoff kicked off the event and focused on Japan’s defense spending. He noted that even though Japan has the 5th largest defense budget, its budget numbers are still lower than what they were in 2000. Furthermore, government budgets directed toward military operations has declined due to Japan’s economic policy of 2 percent inflation, but only a 1 percent annual increase in defense budgets. Schoff stated that because of “Abe-nomics”, refering to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s economic policies, Japan’s defense budget could slip to 8th, behind India, in the next few years.
Schoff did not paint a black-and-white picture for the outcome of Abe’s defense plans, however. He vacillated between perspectives during his speech and eventually stated that the country’s defense plan was ambitious, but would not amount to a tremendous change.
Ratner pointed out Japanese defense development and reform is not new to the Abe administration, but rather discussions on the issue have been going on for years Abe’s election. The language and the messaging to describe change are important. Ratner highlighted three areas of current change: constitutional and legal reform; development of capabilities; and international cooperation. He emphasized that Japan must dispel the notion that these moves are hawkish, right-wing, or militaristic. His analysis found that most of these changes are “centrist,” and the development of capabilities that are widely shared in the region. Ratner described right-wing in Japan as similar to being Republican at the University of Berkeley: “you’re just not as quite far left.”
The last panelist, Mackenzie Eaglen, focused on the U.S. perspective of Abe’s defense plans. Being an expert on U.S. national security issues, she naturally focused heavily on reduced U.S. defense budgets. She stated that the U.S. was no longer looking to remain superior in military aspects, but moving towards “selective superiority.” Thus, the U.S. needs its regional allies and global partners to take on more of the burden of security infrastructure; she echoed the same opinion on the language and messaging. She recommended that Japan not only frame their rise increasing regional security, but also work more with its own regional neighbors.
Photo: Chatham House (cc).
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What Do Abe's Defense Reform Plans Mean for Japan?
July 9, 2013
While China’s military rise and development may be grabbing headlines, Japan’s military is also very advanced and undergoing both policy and structural reforms. Thus, the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research recently held a conference on Japan’s defense outlook titled, “Asia's most lethal military? What Abe's defense plans mean for Japan and the region.” The experts discussed defense policy changes, legal restructuring, and modernization efforts of the Japanese Defense Force (JDF). The panel included AEI resident fellow Mackenzie Eaglen, CNAS Deputy Director of the Asia-Pacific Security Program Ely Ratner, and Carnegie Endowment for International Peace senior associate James Schoff. AEI’s own Michael Auslin, director of Japan Studies, moderated the event.
Schoff kicked off the event and focused on Japan’s defense spending. He noted that even though Japan has the 5th largest defense budget, its budget numbers are still lower than what they were in 2000. Furthermore, government budgets directed toward military operations has declined due to Japan’s economic policy of 2 percent inflation, but only a 1 percent annual increase in defense budgets. Schoff stated that because of “Abe-nomics”, refering to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s economic policies, Japan’s defense budget could slip to 8th, behind India, in the next few years.
Schoff did not paint a black-and-white picture for the outcome of Abe’s defense plans, however. He vacillated between perspectives during his speech and eventually stated that the country’s defense plan was ambitious, but would not amount to a tremendous change.
Ratner pointed out Japanese defense development and reform is not new to the Abe administration, but rather discussions on the issue have been going on for years Abe’s election. The language and the messaging to describe change are important. Ratner highlighted three areas of current change: constitutional and legal reform; development of capabilities; and international cooperation. He emphasized that Japan must dispel the notion that these moves are hawkish, right-wing, or militaristic. His analysis found that most of these changes are “centrist,” and the development of capabilities that are widely shared in the region. Ratner described right-wing in Japan as similar to being Republican at the University of Berkeley: “you’re just not as quite far left.”
The last panelist, Mackenzie Eaglen, focused on the U.S. perspective of Abe’s defense plans. Being an expert on U.S. national security issues, she naturally focused heavily on reduced U.S. defense budgets. She stated that the U.S. was no longer looking to remain superior in military aspects, but moving towards “selective superiority.” Thus, the U.S. needs its regional allies and global partners to take on more of the burden of security infrastructure; she echoed the same opinion on the language and messaging. She recommended that Japan not only frame their rise increasing regional security, but also work more with its own regional neighbors.
Photo: Chatham House (cc).
