In an interview, Gen. Yoshihide Yoshida highlights the necessity for Japan to fortify its defense capabilities and enhance deterrence to avoid potential military aggression in the Indo-Pacific region. He underscores the importance of maintaining a strategic environment that deters armed aggression for the next twenty-five years. Drawing parallels to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Yoshida emphasizes the significance of not allowing other countries to underestimate Japan's defense capabilities.
Yoshida suggests that Japan should not only focus on strengthening its defense capabilities but also work towards bolstering U.S. trust in the country to enhance the deterrence of the Japan-U.S. alliance. He discusses the need for the Self-Defense Forces to increase their roles within the bilateral alliance to garner greater trust from the United States. Yoshida also addresses concerns surrounding the security environment Japan faces, particularly referencing a recent airspace breach by a Chinese military aircraft, which he deemed a violation of Japan’s sovereignty.
Looking at the broader picture, Yoshida points out that countries like China, Russia, and North Korea are collaborating to change the status quo through forceful measures, indicating a need for increased security cooperation with allied nations. He touches on Japan's plans to acquire capabilities to strike enemy bases and deter potential adversaries from launching missile attacks. Additionally, he expresses the importance of upholding a free and open international order through alliances with like-minded countries committed to the rule of law.