“Japan reviews ‘combat sustainment capability’ clearly stated in security documents… Preparing for long-term war”

Kyodo News reported on the 8th that the Japanese government is considering a plan to specify strengthening 'relay capabilities' (the ability to sustain combat) in the 'National Defense Strategy', one of the three major security documents scheduled for revision within the year.

Through this, multiple officials reported that the Japanese government plans to promote stockpiling of ammunition and missiles on a regular basis and secure a production increase system in case of emergency.

This can be interpreted as the fact that securing ammunition and missiles has emerged as an important issue due to the war in Ukraine that has continued for more than four years.

The current national defense strategy established in 2022 also clearly stipulates securing combat sustainability capabilities.

However, Kyodo reported that as a large amount of ammunition was consumed in a short period of time not only in the war in Ukraine but also in the armed conflict between the United States and Iran, the sense of crisis that preparing for a long-term war became an important factor in the reliability of deterrence increased even more within the Japanese government.

In the review status of the three major security documents announced by the Japanese Ministry of Defense in October, it was mentioned that 'securing and maintaining sufficient relay capabilities to respond to a long-term war becomes a task.'

The Ministry of Defense also emphasized that “it is important to maintain a system for stockpiling during normal times and increasing production after the start of war.”

Therefore, the national defense strategy is expected to include policies to expand involvement, such as investing in the national defense industry or owning factories to manufacture important equipment.

It has been reported that the 'National Security Strategy', which is the top document of the national defense strategy and one of the three major security documents, will not use the expression 'relay capability' but will instead use 'continuous response capability'.

Kyodo explained that this is because it envisages a wide range of areas, including infrastructure maintenance, in addition to strengthening the energy and food supply chain.

A Japanese government official explained to Kyodo, "We distinguish between relay capabilities specialized for the military and continuous response capabilities, which refer to the foundation of the entire nation."

However, Kyodo reported that while the Japanese government has expressed interest in specifying relay capabilities in the national defense strategy, there are concerns that 'it may give the impression that it is premised on war.'

Therefore, the final policy is expected to be decided after coordination within the ruling party.