Monday’s Yomiuri wrote that the GOJ has decided to deploy upgraded surface-to-air missiles on the Nansei Islands to enhance Japan’s air defense over the Senkakus and other remote islands. The GOJ plans to earmark 17.7 billion yen in the FY2017 budget for the project with the goal of deploying the missiles around 2021.

Sunday’s Sankei wrote that the Defense Ministry plans to allocate some 76 billion yen in the FY2017 budget to build a new submarine to succeed the Soryu-class attack submarine, which is said to be the most advanced conventional submarine in the world. While mentioning the separate plan by the ministry to upgrade an ASDF wing based in Naha, Okinawa, the….Read more

Saturday morning’s Nikkei wrote that concern is mounting about ongoing SDF peacekeeping operations in South Sudan on account of continued conflict there. Although the Defense Ministry has stressed that stability is gradually being restored, some Japanese politicians are concerned about the efficacy of the ceasefire accord between the warring parties because the SDF mission is premised upon it. As the….Read more

Sankei front-paged a plan by the Defense Ministry to submit to the Finance Ministry its budget request for FY2017, noting that it will seek R&D funding for a new surface-to-ship missile with a maximum range of 300 kilometers with the goal of deterring provocations and aggression in the vicinity of the Senkakus. Noting that the ministry is also expected to….Read more

The government plans to add “rushing to the aid of foreign troops” as an additional mission of the Ground-Self Defense Force (GSDF) units, which are scheduled to deploy to South Sudan in November to participate in the UN peacekeeping operations (PKO). The Defense Ministry intends to accelerate preparation for the deployment by providing the replacement units with the necessary training….Read more

“Five principles” must be fulfilled in accordance with Constitutional restrictions in order for the Japanese Self-Defense Force (SDF) to participate in a peace keeping operation (PKO). The principles include the existence of a peace agreement among involved parties as a condition for participation in the operation.   Currently, roughly 350 SDF personnel are engaging in the PKO in South Sudan,….Read more

All papers wrote that the GOJ issued an order on Aug. 8 for the SDF to shoot down any projectile heading toward Japan in preparation for potential North Korean missile launches in the future. The order will be effective for the next three months and is renewable. The order, which was issued by Defense Minister Inada, is intended to ensure….Read more

Several papers wrote today that the GOJ is set to arrange training drills starting this month for SDF troops bound for South Sudan in November on UN peacekeeping missions so as to allow them to come to the defense of UN officials, private aid workers, and foreign troops if they are attacked by insurgents. Noting that such operations are now….Read more

The Ministry of Defense announced on Tuesday that an engineering unit of the Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) has resumed activities outside its facility in South Sudan. The unit, which is taking part in United Nation’s Peacekeeping Operations (PKO), began road maintenance work at the UN base 6.5 km away from the SDF facility in Juba.   After July 7, the….Read more

With the enactment of the security laws, the restriction on the use of firearms was eased for the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) currently deploying to South Sudan to participate in the UN peacekeeping operations (PKO).   In order to help South Sudan become self-reliant, the government dispatched the Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) to the country to participate in the PKO, beginning….Read more