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GOLDSEA HOME

Japan Builds Military Commensurate with Global Ambitions

nternational peacekeeping is now a primary mission for Japan's military, which is also scrambling to bolster its missile defenses and deepen its coordination with U.S. troops to ensure regional security, an annual report said Friday.

     The formal shift to a focus on peacekeeping missions abroad underscores a major, continuing transformation of Japan's post World War II military from an inward-looking posture to a more ambitious, global stance that reflects Tokyo's efforts to become a more forceful player on the world stage.

     It also underscores Japan's growing concern at China's expanding military might.

     Japan has in recent years become more involved in peacekeeping missions, and sent several hundred troops to southern Iraq. The troops were involved in reconstruction, water-purification and other humanitarian, non-combat activities.

     Japanese navy ships also provide logistical support for coalition forces engaged in Afghanistan.

     According to the ``Defense of Japan 2007,'' which was approved by the Cabinet on Friday, the country will continue to increase its participation in such missions in a ``proactive'' manner.

     ``International peace cooperation activities are a primary mission,'' said Defense Ministry spokesman Mamoru Kotaki.

     The outward emphasis is a major _ and controversial _ change in direction for Japan's military.

     Though one of the world's strongest and best-equipped, Japan's Self Defense Forces are tightly constrained by the nation's 1948 constitution, which bars the use of force to settle international disputes and limits Japan's own military to a strictly defensive role.

     Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, citing the threat of a nuclear-armed North Korea and the expansion and modernization of China's military, has sought to change that, championing a constitutional overhaul that would allow for a much freer hand in security policy.

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     Japan's push to strengthen its military has been backed by Washington, whose own forces are stretched thin by the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. The United States maintains about 50,000 troops in Japan under a postwar mutual security pact, but is restructuring its presence here and throughout Asia _ including major troop cuts in South Korea and on Okinawa _ and has called on Tokyo to be a more active security partner.

     A stronger Japan has raised concerns of an escalating arms race with China, however, and many Japanese are wary of being drawn into conflicts overseas or of funds being siphoned from social programs to military growth.

     Japan spends roughly US$42 billion (euro33 billion) annually on defense. The overall figure has remained relatively static at about 1 percent of GDP _ compared with 3 percent in the United States _ but experts note it makes Japan fourth or fifth in the world in defense outlays and that spending on areas like missile defense are swelling.

     Kotaki said Tokyo is not seeking fundamental change in its basic defensive policies.

     ``There is no intention of departing from conventional defense policies or for Japan to become a military power,'' he said.

     On the homefront, the annual report said ballistic missile defense will remain a crucial strategic and budgetary factor.

     Working closely with Washington, Tokyo has spent 157.2 billion yen (US$1.28 billion; euro940 million) on ballistic missile defense this year, up from 139.9 billion yen in fiscal 2006. To further improve coordination, the Japanese Air Defense Command will be moved to a U.S. military base on the outskirts of Tokyo.

     Japan has aggressively pursued BMD since North Korea launched a long-range missile over Japan's main island in 1998.

     In 2005, Japan and the U.S. signed an agreement allowing Japan to produce its own PAC-3 Patriot missiles for deployment at Japanese bases. Japan's Defense Agency also plans to buy 124 Patriot surface-to-air missiles by 2010.

     Last year, the Pentagon notified Congress that the U.S. could sell Japan nine upgraded SM-3 missiles and related equipment for use on their AEGIS destroyers. The price tag was put at up to US$438 million. Japan already has four AEGIS destroyers operating with SM-2 missiles, and two more are under construction.

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