Japan Must Bolster Defense Capabilities to Deter Aggression, Says Top Military Officer
General Yoshihide Yoshida, Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff of the Self-Defense Forces (SDF), emphasizes the need for Japan to strengthen its defense capabilities and enhance the deterrence of the Japan-U.S. security alliance to prevent military aggression in the Indo-Pacific region.
Yoshida highlights the importance of deterring aggression, drawing parallels to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He emphasizes that Japan must not be underestimated by other countries and must maintain an environment that discourages armed aggression.
He stresses the importance of strengthening Japan's own defense capabilities and increasing U.S. trust in the country to enhance the deterrence of the Japan-U.S. alliance. This will solidify the United States' commitment to Japan's defense.
Yoshida expresses concern over China's recent airspace breach and its attempts to change the status quo by force in the East and South China Seas. He emphasizes the need to collaborate with allies and like-minded countries to maintain a free and open international order based on the rule of law.
He also discusses Japan's plans to acquire the capability to strike enemy bases to deter potential adversaries from attacking Japan with missiles. He clarifies that this capability will not be used for preventive or pre-emptive strikes.
Yoshida acknowledges the strategic challenge of keeping the United States committed to the Indo-Pacific region in the face of an increasingly assertive China. He assures that the SDF and the U.S. military have a strong relationship and are conducting joint exercises of unprecedented quality.
He addresses concerns about the independence of Japan's command and control authority over the SDF in an emergency, stating that the SDF has taken the initiative in terms of operations and is confident in its command and control system's independence.
Yoshida also comments on visits by SDF officers to Yasukuni Shrine, stating that while there is no problem with individual visits, he will not visit the shrine while in his position.
He acknowledges the recent scandals involving SDF members and emphasizes the importance of maintaining high standards of discipline. He also addresses manpower shortages and plans to utilize civilian personnel, reserve members, and artificial intelligence to address this issue.
Yoshida concludes by highlighting the importance of increasing the number of female members in the SDF and creating a comfortable work environment for them.