Self-Defense Forces

Self-Defense Force: Japan’s Military Forces

Most countries particularly those belonging to the First World have their own military forces that serve as the self-defense forces of the citizens, territories, and governments and of the nations.

In Japan, the country’s military forces began to change after the Imperial Army and Navy were defeated during World War II by the Occupation forces led by the Americans. Under the Article 9 of 1947 Japanese constitution, Japan is prohibited to possess military forces that would bring the nation to war.

However, the environment in the defense system of Japan shifted when the Cold War started to develop. Cold War is characterized as the period of tension, competition and conflict between democratic USA and communist USSR and their respective allied nations. Japan became an anti-communist camp for America. At that time, America pressured Japan to create its military forces. This led to the establishment of Japan’s National Police reserve that was renamed to Self-Defense Forces in 1954.

The branches of Self-Defense Forces include Japan Ground Self-defense Force, Maritime Self-Defense Force and Air Self-Defense Force. They are military forces for land, water and air territories, respectively.

Japan’s Self-Defense Forces has strong defensive nature. Japan is known for high-tech and advanced equipment. Although the Self-Defense Forces have equipment that are largely defensive, Japan limits their capacity into defensive nature and does not integrate offensive capacity. It has a military hierarchy in which the operational chain of command is headed by the Japan’s Prime Minister. The administrative commander is Japan’s defense minister.

Aside from the Article 9 of Japan’s new constitution, which limits the military power of Self-Defense Forces, Japan government only limits its spending power for Japan’s military forces equivalent to 1% of Japan’s GNP. However, the government spending for Japan’s SDF recently for the past years after the second world war increased because of the country’s economic growth. Thus, the Self-Defense Forces have advanced equipment and military infrastructures. But still SDF’s capacity has been under limitations by Japan’s government.

Japan’s Self-Defense Forces were only confined to territories of Japan including its islands and are not allowed to be deployed overseas. This limitation was criticized by the US and other countries during Japan’s no participation in the Gulf War and in civil war in Somalia. However, they have participated in peacekeeping operations internationally.

The role of Self-Defense Forces has been a constant debate in Japan and even in international community. Recently the Self-Defense Forces’ status has been the concern over increasing tensions with China and North Korea.