• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Excelitas Qioptiq banner

BATTLESPACE Updates

   +44 (0)77689 54766
   j.nettlefold@battle-technology.com

  • Home
  • Features
  • News Updates
  • Company Directory
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Media Pack 2021

U.S., JAPANESE OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE NEW DEFENSE GUIDELINES By Jim Garamone DoD News, Defense Media Activity

April 29, 2015 by Julian Nettlefold

 

japflag27 Apr 15. The new U.S.-Japan defense guidelines will fundamentally change the way Japan and the United States cooperate on defense matters, a senior defense official said recently.

The official spoke on background in advance of today’s release, calling the guidelines “a big deal” for both countries. The guidelines are the foundation on which the United States and Japan base their cooperation as allies.

“It’s a big deal because the region has changed since we last revised the guidelines in 1997,” the official said. “It’s a big deal because [as] Japanese capabilities have increased, Japan’s ability to contribute to regional peace and stability has increased.”

The new guidelines come on the heels of Japan’s reinterpretation of their constitution in July 2014.

Collective Self-Defense

Under the reinterpretation, Japan will be able to defend other countries that may come under attack. “This is the exercise of collective self-defense,” the official said.

The new guidelines allow for increased regional and global cooperation in the U.S.-Japanese alliance. This will be most noticeable in peacekeeping operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, international intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations, missile defense and a variety of other areas, the official noted.

There will also be an increase in U.S.-Japan alliance cooperation in new domains like cyber and space, the official said, adding that this means increased cooperation in space situational awareness, bolstering the resiliency of space systems and cooperative early warning.

In cyber, the two countries will share more information on threats and vulnerabilities. “You will see us working together to assure the resiliency of critical infrastructure in defense and elsewhere,” he said.

The guidelines also seek to improve coordination between the U.S. and Japan.

“We will be establishing a standing alliance coordination mechanism, which will operate from the cabinet level down and will include representatives from the foreign and defense ministries, as well as from the militaries,” the official explained. “This new coordinating body will help us cooperate together more seamlessly and more effectively as allies.”

Improved Regional Operations Ability

The body can also include members from other agencies and departments as the need arises, the official noted.

The new guidelines mean Japan can now defend U.S. ships engaged in missile defense activities in the vicinity of Japan, he said. Japan can also respond to attacks on third countries if they are in close association with Japan and if those attacks directly affect Japanese security. Japan and the United States will coordinate and share information more closely in missile defense, and Japan will be able to shoot down missiles headed for U.S. territory, the official said.

It’s a real change and improvement in the ability of the alliance to operate together, not only in defense of Japan, but throughout the region and globally, he said.

The first set of defense guidelines was issued in 1978 and was aimed at the immediate defense of Japan. These were amended in 1997 and that expanded U.S.-Japanese ability to cooperate regionally into situations and areas surrounding Japan.

“These guidelines eliminate the geographic restrictions on U.S. and Japan cooperation so we’ll be able to do globally what we’ve been able to do in Japan and regionally as well,” the defense official said.

(Follow Jim Garamone on Twitter: @GaramoneDoDNews)

Filed Under: News Update

Primary Sidebar

Advertisers

  • qioptiq.com
  • Exensor
  • TCI
  • Visit the Oxley website
  • Visit the Viasat website
  • Blighter
  • Arnold Defense logo
  • SPECTRA
  • InVeris
  • Britbots logo
  • Faun Trackway
  • Systematic
Hilux

Contact Us

BATTLESPACE Publications
Old Charlock
Abthorpe Road
Silverstone
Towcester NN12 8TW

+44 (0)77689 54766

j.nettlefold@battle-technology.com

BATTLESPACE Technologies

An international defence electronics news service providing our readers with up to date developments in the defence electronics industry.

Recent News

  • MANAGEMENT ON THE MOVE

    March 5, 2021
    Read more
  • CONTRACT NEWS IN BRIEF

    March 5, 2021
    Read more
  • INTERNATIONAL PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITIES

    March 5, 2021
    Read more

Copyright BATTLESPACE Publications © 2002–2021.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. If you continue to use the website, we'll assume you're ok with this.   Read More  Accept
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

SAVE & ACCEPT