Members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) with 7th Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Airborne Brigade, disembark an MV-22B Osprey assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 265 during Keen Sword 23 at Camp Ainoura, Japan, Nov. 16, 2022. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Justin J. Marty)
MELBOURNE — The Japanese government aims to boost its domestic defense industry, according to a newly released white paper, which warned that China’s posture and military activities continue to “present an unprecedented and the greatest strategic challenge” to the Indo-Pacific region.
It also pledged to continue to ensure the continuation of the US-Japan alliance’s technological edge by reinforcing cooperation with the US on defense technology.
The paper, whose themes were consistent with previous Japanese defense analysis, was released on Tuesday, along with an anime-style English language video summary and pamphlet, diving into topics like AI and other military developments. The summary said the Russian invasion of Ukraine had shown countries the “new ways of warfare” and that domestic defense technology will be critical “in order to acquire defense equipment required to achieve uniquely Japanese new ways of defense” in response.
