On December 16, the National Security Council and the Cabinet decided and approved a new “National Security Strategy (NSS),” along with the “National Defense Strategy” and the “Defense Buildup Program” based on the NSS.

Russia's aggression against Ukraine launched in February is shaking the very foundation of the international order. Amid these circumstances, Japan is finding itself in the midst of the most severe and complex security environment since the end of World War II. The international community is standing at a historic crossroads, and maintaining and developing the free and open international order based on the rule of law is becoming more important than it has ever been. The new NSS was adopted against this backdrop.

The new NSS will dramatically transform Japan's national security policy after the end of World War II from the aspect of its execution. It sets out policies to be implemented including the following major ones: (1) Develop diplomacy under the vision of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)”; (2) Fundamentally reinforce defense capabilities, including the possession of counterstrike capabilities; (3) Reinforce the comprehensive defense architecture by promoting cross-governmental efforts in areas that complement and are inseparable from the fundamental reinforcement of defense capabilities, namely research and development, public infrastructure development, cybersecurity, and international cooperation, to enhance deterrence capabilities of Japan and like-minded countries; (4) Consider revising, the Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology, its Implementation Guidelines, and other systems in order to promote smooth transfer of defense equipment and technology of high security significance; (5) Introduce active cyber defense and establish a new organization that will comprehensively coordinate policies in the field of cybersecurity, in a centralized manner; (6) Significantly reinforce maritime law enforcement capabilities in conjunction with efforts to strengthen its organization; (7) Promote economic security policies.

In particular, the new NSS establishes diplomatic capability first among the main elements of comprehensive national power for Japan's national security. Building on Japan's long record of diplomatic undertakings and economic activities to promote the peace, stability, and prosperity of the international community, Japan will carry out vigorous diplomacy to prevent crises, strengthen diplomacy with the neighboring countries and regions, as well as efforts toward the resolution of various issues of concern including territorial issues, and proactively create a peaceful and stable international environment, guided by significantly enhanced diplomatic implementation architecture.

Specifically, the Japan-U.S. Alliance, with the Japan-U.S. security arrangements at its core, plays an indispensable role not only for the security of Japan but also for the realization of peace and stability in the international community, including in the Indo-Pacific region. From this perspective, Japan, while ensuring bilateral coordination at its strategic levels, will promote multilayered initiatives in coordination with the U.S. in all areas, including diplomacy, defense, and economy.

Moreover, Japan will further promote efforts to realize FOIP by deepening cooperation with like-minded countries with the Japan-U.S. Alliance as a cornerstone and through efforts such as the Japan-Australia-India-U.S. (Quad) partnership. Japan will also further enhance diplomatic engagement with developing countries, which are economically growing and becoming more influential in the international arena. By doing so, Japan, together with as many countries as possible, will strengthen a free and open international order based on the rule of law. Guided by the vision of FOIP, Official Development Assistance (ODA) plays an extremely important role in maintaining and developing a free and open international order and in realizing coexistence and coprosperity in the international community. Therefore, Japan will continue to expand ODA while strategically utilizing it.

Furthermore, Japan will build a multilayered network among its ally and like-minded countries, expand it, and strengthen deterrence. To that end, while utilizing frameworks such as the Japan-U.S.-ROK and Japan-U.S.-Australia frameworks, Japan will enhance security cooperation with Australia, India, the ROK, European countries, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, Canada, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the European Union (EU), and others.

In addition, for the purpose of deepening security cooperation with like-minded countries, apart from ODA for the economic and social development of developing countries and other purposes, a new cooperation framework for the benefit of armed forces and other related organizations will be established. Japan will provide equipment and supplies as well as assistance for the development of infrastructures to like-minded countries in view of strengthening their security capacities and improving their deterrence capabilities.

In pursuing such efforts, the stance of Japan since the end of World War II as a peace-loving nation remains unchanged. Japan will adhere to the basic policy of maintaining an exclusively national defense oriented policy, not becoming a military power that poses a threat to other countries, and observing the Three Non-Nuclear Principles. Japan's diplomatic policy, as before, to achieve coprosperity with other countries without sacrificing any country, is also unchanged. As one of the most mature and stable advanced democratic countries in the world, Japan will lead the international community by example.