BBC World News

Focus On The Military: Japan signals key military shift
Japan's troop deployment in Iraq has been extended for another year
Japan has revised its defence policy to allow for a greater role in global military co-operation.

The new guidelines, the first for nine years, re-state Japan's constitutional pledge never to threaten other nations.

But the changes also ease some of the restrictions on Japan's military, allowing it to collaborate with the US in areas of missile defence.

The report singles out North Korea as a particular area of regional concern, along with China's military build-up.

The guidelines were unveiled just a day after Japan extended its troop deployment in Iraq for another year.


KEY RECOMMENDATIONS
Re-states 1945 pacifist constitution
Partially lifts arms sales ban, to allow joint US missile research
Highlights N Korea and China as nations to monitor
Military spending to be cut, reducing troop levels
More emphasis on terrorist and missile threat
Signals wider role in global peacekeeping missions

Japan extends military reach
Press split on Iraq decision
The non-combat mission has caused controversy in Japan, being the nation's first mission since 1945 to a country where fighting is under way.

Pacifist nation

In its new National Defence Outline - covering a period from April 2005 to March 2009 - the cabinet was careful to stress the principle of self-defence which has governed Japan since 1945.

"Abiding by the basic principle under Japan's constitution, our country, devoting itself entirely to self-defence, will never threaten other countries or become a military power," the document said.

But the plan does allow for certain key changes, in order to reflect what Japan sees as the world's changing security situation.

A ban on arms sales will no longer apply in areas like anti-missile defence, where Japan wants to develop new systems jointly with the United States.

The new guidelines identify North Korea as an area of concern, describing the Stalinist nation's military moves as "serious, destabilizing factors for regional security".

Neighbours like North Korea are making Japan nervous
North Korea's possession of missiles which can reach Japan has persuaded many Japanese that their country should rely less on the US - and more on itself - for security, according to the BBC correspondent in Tokyo, Jonathan Head.

China's military build-up was also singled out as an area which Japan needed to monitor.

"China, which has a great impact on security in this region, is pushing ahead with enhancing its nuclear and missile capabilities... We need to continue to watch these moves in the future," the guidelines stated.

The two countries have a prickly relationship, complicated by memories of Japan's occupation of China during World War II, and more recently by rivalry over diplomatic influence and access to natural resources.

Overseas missions

Under the new guidelines, military spending is due to be cut by more than 3% over the next five years, and troop levels are set to be reduced by 5,000 to 155,000.

But Friday's announcement also signalled a move to more mobile and multi-functional military capabilities, and the need for a more proactive contribution to peacekeeping.

According to our correspondent, this suggests that in future Japanese forces will be deployed overseas more frequently.

But the new policy does not incorporate a controversial suggestion by business leaders and academics that Japan should consider acquiring a pre-emptive strike capability.

"We are not in a position to consider having the capability of attacking missile bases in an enemy country," a senior Japanese official told Reuters news agency.

None of the changes announced on Friday amount to a revolution, according to our correspondent.

But there is little doubt that they set Japan on the path to becoming a nation whose military muscle more closely reflects its economic power, he says.

Wow, I'm behind the times. I was still under the assumption that Japan wasn't allowed an army due to WWII and we were still providing their protection. When did this change, and why wasn't it bigger news? Or maybe I'm just an idiot.

No you're not GS! Many surely thought the same!

They allowed themselves a purely defensive force composed of mostly US imported hardware. Times seem to be changing, however, and there are some who would like a more aggresive military force in light of possible conflict with North Korea and China.

Good. I've always thought that Japan is more than capable of supporting themselves and we were just wasting money and personnel over there. If they want their own army, I say more power to them.

Oh, and fucking with China....not a good idea. Why do you think the US is willing to overlook all their human rights issues? Cause they're one of the few countries who could kick our ass in pure, non-nuclear combat. Not the most noble reason, but I feel it's the truth.

Well, it is certainly a nation that is better to deal with on a diplomatic level rather than a military one at this point. However, the US has a very capable military, but is embroiled in too many other activities at the moment to consider strong arming a nation such as China. The Chinese do not have anything else militarily to focus on besides Japan and the United States with Russia a shadow of its former self. Unless the US would (and should not if you ask me at this point) adopt a military policy that was based on a twin superpower world (i.e. Cold War Policy with China as the aggressor), the US is not equipped at this time to deal with China in that fashion. I believe this is a major reason for the remilitarization of Japan as a key ally in that region.