Hudson-美日国家安全和防卫战略（英文）-2021.5-13页_268kb

US and Japan National Security and Defense Strategies Summary

Core Content

The discussion focuses on the evolving national security and defense strategies of the United States and Japan, particularly in the context of strategic competition with China. The event highlights the importance of aligning and integrating both countries' strategies to address emerging security challenges, including military, economic, technological, and geopolitical issues.

The Biden administration has released an Interim National Security Strategic Guidance, which serves as a foundation for developing a comprehensive national security and defense strategy by the end of 2022. This guidance emphasizes strategic competition with China, multilateralism, and transnational threats, although it is criticized for not fully integrating military, economic, and diplomatic power and for not addressing the importance of globalization.

Main Points and Key Views

US Perspective (Nadia Schadlow)

• Continuity with Previous Administrations: The Biden administration's approach shows similarities with the Trump administration, particularly in China as a competitor, trade issues, and linking domestic and international economic policies.
• Multilateralism Emphasis: The Biden strategy is more multilateral than the Trump approach, which may be seen as a shift in policy tone.
• Challenges with Implementation: The strategy is criticized for underestimating the difficulty of cooperation with China in areas like climate change and for not adequately linking military, economic, and diplomatic power.
• Need for a New Model of Alliances: The US needs to move toward a more integrated alliance model, especially in the Indo-Pacific, to counter the growing power of the PRC.

US Perspective (Elbridge Colby)

• China as the Pacing Threat: The US must continue to focus on China as the primary security challenge, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region.
• Denial Strategy for Taiwan: Colby advocates for a denial strategy to protect Taiwan, emphasizing that its defense is critical to Japan's security and that military access could be compromised if Taiwan falls.
• Integrated Deterrence: While the concept of integrated deterrence is mentioned, Colby argues that practical, focused deterrence is more necessary than theoretical approaches.
• Strategic Prioritization: The US should prioritize Asia, followed by Europe, and minimize involvement in the Middle East. There is a call for sufficient funding and retiring outdated military assets.
• Challenges in Implementation: The National Defense Strategy has not been fully implemented, and legacy forces are still a major part of the military structure, despite calls for modernization.

Japanese Perspective (Nobushige Takamizawa)

• Continuity in Policy Toward China: The Japanese government has maintained a consistent strategy toward China, emphasizing US leadership, democratic international order, and strategic confidence.
• Need for Integrated Strategy: Japan must move toward a more integrated national security strategy, involving not just defense but also cyber, space, and information warfare.
• Challenges in Implementation: Japan faces implementation challenges, particularly in coordinating across ministries and mobilizing the private sector.
• Shift in Focus: There is a need to shift from gray zone conflicts to full-scale escalation, and to strengthen defense capabilities in response to this.
• Political Uncertainty: The upcoming general and Upper House elections in Japan may affect the political stability and the formulation of new strategies.

Japanese Perspective (Sugio Takahashi)

• Integration of Business Sector: The Japanese defense strategy should integrate the business sector into the planning process to ensure a comprehensive and effective approach.
• Shift in Strategic Focus: The strategy should move from gray zone hybrid warfare to full-scale escalation, which requires a rethinking of defense priorities.
• Defense Budget Concerns: Japan's defense budget share in East Asia has declined significantly over the past two decades, from 40% to 60%, indicating a shift in regional power dynamics.
• Need for Persuasion: Japanese strategists must convince the public and taxpayers of the need for increased defense spending and a more assertive posture.
• Coordination Mechanisms: A centralized coordination center is needed to manage information warfare, cybersecurity, and economic and technological aspects of national security.

Key Takeaways

• Strategic Competition with China is the central theme of both US and Japanese strategies.
• Coherence and Integration between national security and defense strategies are essential for effectiveness.
• Multilateralism is emphasized in the US strategy, while Japan faces challenges in implementing and coordinating its security and defense policies.
• Defense Budget Allocation is a critical issue for Japan, with a need to increase spending and shift focus to more serious security threats.
• Public Awareness and Political Stability are important for the successful implementation of new strategies.

Conclusion

The US and Japan must work closely to align their strategic priorities, military capabilities, and policy frameworks in the face of growing Chinese influence and geopolitical challenges. A coherent and integrated approach is necessary to ensure effective deterrence, security cooperation, and strategic competitiveness in the Indo-Pacific region.