The following is the 2025 Defense of Japan white paper that was issued by the Ministry of Defense.
From the report
The international community is now facing its greatest trial since the end of World War II.
The existing order of world peace is being seriously challenged, and Japan finds itself in the most severe and complex security environment of the post-war era.
China has been swiftly increasing its national defense expenditures, thereby extensively and rapidly enhancing its military capability in a qualitative and quantitative manner and intensifying its activities in the East China Sea, including around the Senkaku Islands, and the Pacific. North Korea has concentrated its efforts on enhancing its arsenal of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles, and pushing ahead with the launch of ballistic missiles and others. Russia has been conducting intensive military activities in the region encompassing the Northern Territories, alongside continuing its aggression against Ukraine. Russia has also been observed engaging in joint activities with China involving aircraft and vessels.
Amid this security environment, the Ministry of Defense (MOD) and the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) are fundamentally reinforcing Japan’s defense capabilities with independence and initiative, in an effort to protect the lives and peaceful livelihoods of Japanese people and resolutely defend Japan’s territorial land, waters, and airspace, as expressed in the three strategic documents.
Specifically, we are building future core defense capabilities such as stand-off and Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD). Furthermore, we are bolstering our unmanned defense capabilities, cross-domain operation capabilities, and command-and-control and intelligence-related functions. Enhancing mobile deployment capabilities together with sustainability and resiliency is also important. Japan is expediting efforts to improve equipment operational rates, secure ammunition and fuel, and promote investments to improve the resiliency of defense facilities.
In addition to Japan’s own efforts, cooperation and collaboration with our ally and like-minded countries is critical. The Alliance with the United States is a key pillar of our national security policy and the cornerstone of peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Through my meetings with U.S. Secretary of Defense Hegseth, and as part of the upgrading of the respective command and control frameworks, the upgrading of U.S. Forces Japan to a joint force headquarters has commenced in step with the establishment of the JSDF Joint Operations Command (JJOC). We are also discussing other On the Publication of “Defense of Japan 2025” NAKATANI Gen Minister of Defense initiatives to strengthen the deterrence and response capabilities of the Alliance, such as expansion of bilateral joint presence in the southwestern region of Japan and the promotion of defense equipment and technology cooperation, including co-production, development, and sustainment.
Promoting multilayered defense cooperation with like-minded countries is also essential. I visited Indonesia and the Philippines since the beginning of the year. We shared views on the mutual challenges facing the region and discussed deepening cooperation in a range of areas, including operational cooperation. During my visit to India in May, I suggested to proceed the collaboration as “Japan India Defense cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region (JIDIP),” and we concurred to enhance synergy through the coordination of initiatives led by each country and support regional peace and prosperity from the defense side.
At the Shangri-La Dialogue, on May 31, I proposed the spirit of One Cooperative Effort Among Nations: Perspective for the Indo-Pacific (OCEAN). I stated that the spirit of OCEAN is grounded in a shared spirit—a collective commitment among defense authorities to restoring the rules-based international order, strengthening accountability, and advancing the international public good through cooperation, openness, inclusivity, and transparency. The spirit of OCEAN underscores the importance of countries sharing common values and interests to take a broad and panoramic view of the Indo-Pacific, to generate synergy through enhanced cooperation and collaboration among their respective initiatives, and to create new values and benefits. I pledged that Japan will continue to remain a partner of choice for all nations committed to these efforts, working together for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific in the field of defense.
The MOD is now undertaking efforts to reinforce the human resource base, including improving the treatment and working environments of the JSDF and establishing lifetime career plans covering recruitment and assistance.
Download the document here.