Japan gears up sea lane defenses, with Western Pacific on the radar

 

 Japan gears up sea lane defenses, with Western Pacific on the radar

With the decades-long, U.S.-led global order increasingly challenged by countries such as China, Russia and Iran, Japan is strengthening its own capability to adapt to the new geopolitical reality.

Japan's upcoming National Security Strategy

Last week, Nikkei reported that Japan's latest version of its National Security Strategy is expected to incorporate protecting sea lanes in the Western Pacific Ocean as a key pillar for safeguarding people's livelihoods and the economy.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is pushing ahead with a fast-track update to that along with two other key documents -- the National Defense Strategy and the Defense Buildup Program -- to be completed by the end of the year. The revisions will serve as the foundation for the nation's security policies and for increased defense budgets.

Tokyo's past efforts to protect sea lanes focused mainly on the shipping route from Japan to the Middle East, from which the country sources more than 90% of its crude oil. But the economic turmoil caused by the Iran war serves as a reminder of the importance of sea lanes in the Pacific Ocean, which connect to vital trade partners such as the U.S., Australia, Canada and Brazil.

Enhanced capabilities of surveillance aircraft and island-based radar systems, as well as security cooperation with countries around the sea lanes, are likely to be given more priority.

Cooperation with Australia, the Philippines and the U.S.

In tandem with these developments, Australia and Japan announced on Saturday the official signing of a contract for Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to build the first three of Australia's new general-purpose frigates, a project worth 20 billion Australian dollars ($14.3 billion)

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, who met his counterpart Richard Marles in Melbourne, called the agreement "historic" and said there was "no limit" to the possibilities of closer bilateral security ties.

Meanwhile, the Philippines and the U.S. kicked off 19-day Balikatan military exercises on Monday. Japan's Self-Defense Forces (SDF) will send its largest-ever contingent of 1,400 members.

Japan has participated in the annual drills as an observer since 2012. But its involvement has been limited, with only 150 SDF troops participating last year. The drills, which include integrated air and missile defense and a counterlanding live-fire exercise, run through May 8.