Japan's Potential Contributions in an East China Sea Contingency
Abstract
The public summary of the U.S. National Defense Strategy (NDS) published by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) in 2018 highlights the need for U.S. allies and partners to help respond to challenges presented by strategic competitors and other security challenges. In the Indo-Pacific region, the United States alliance with Japan is the most relevant in this endeavor. The question of whether U.S. allies such as Japan are contributing enough toor sharing the burden ofthe collective defense has become a major topic of discussion in the United States. The Office of the Secretary of Defense asked the RAND Corporation to research what roles could and would Japan play should a high-end contingency erupt in the East China Sea that finds the United States engaged in major combat operations with China. This report explores Japans ability and willingness to contribute in this situation and identifies ways in which DoD might incentivize Japan to improve its contributions. Using primary source documents of the Japanese government, this report shows that, despite Japans focus on self-defense, there are significant areas in which Japans Self-Defense Forces (SDF) can assist the United States. That assistance, however, is limited, both in terms of capabilities and existing legal restrictions. Importantly, much relies on Japans political decision makers, who, in a time of a crisis, will be challenged to ensure that their decision making timelines are fully in sync with U.S. operational needs. In addition to assessing the strengths and weakness of the capabilities of each of the three SDF servicesboth current and expected over the next decadeagainst what would be relevant in a potential high-end East China Sea contingency, the report examines broader SDF strengths and challenges that are not service-specific but will matter for the United States during such a situation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2020
- Accession Number
- AD1117775
Entities
People
- Jeffrey W. Hornung
Organizations
- RAND Corporation