Since 1956, Japan’s military has served strictly in a self-defense capacity. In fact, it’s called the Self-Defense Force, or SDF. This week though, Japan took the first step to develop something it hasn’t had in a generation, first strike capabilities.
On Friday, Japan adopted a new national security strategy, and named China as the biggest challenge to ensuring Japan’s peace, safety and stability. Japan is upping its defense spending to 2% of GDP, bringing it in line with the NATO standard. Part of that spending will fund the deployment of foreign-developed standoff missiles, which will give Japan the ability to preemptively strike its enemies if threatened.
Japan thinks Lockheed Martin’s Tomahawk and Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles should do the job. Details of the purchase are still being worked out, but Japan thinks the standoff missile batteries could be in place across the country by 2026.
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