JSDAF

The Japan Self-Defense Forces (自衛隊 Jieitai?), or JSDF, occasionally referred to as JSF or SDF, are
the unified military forces of Japan that were established after the end of the post-World War
II US occupation of Japan. For most of the post-war period the JSDF was confined to the islands of Japan
and not permitted to be deployed abroad. In recent years they have been engaged in
international peacekeeping operations.[4] Recent tensions, particularly with North Korea[5] have reignited
the debate over the status of the JSDF and its relation to Japanese society.[6]

Defense policy
See also: National security of Japan

Japan's Basic Policy for National Defense stipulates the following policies: [9]

1. Maintaining an exclusive defense-oriented policy.

2. To avoid becoming a major military power that might pose a threat to the world.
3. Refraining from the development of nuclear weapons, and to refuse to allow nuclear weapons
inside Japanese territory.
4. Ensuring civilian control of the military.
5. Maintaining security arrangements with the United States.
6. Building up defensive capabilities within moderate limits.

Japan's military budget is to be maintained to only be 3% of the total Japanese budget. About 50% of that
[10]
is spent on the personnel and the rest is split on supplies, new weapons, upgrades, etc. Reflecting a
tension concerning the Forces' legal status, the Japanese term gun (軍 , pronounced [ɡuɴ]), referring to a
?

military or armed force, and the English terms "military", "army", "navy", and "air force" are never used in
official references to the JSDF.
[edit]Article 9
In theory, Japan's rearmament is prohibited by Article 9 of the Japanese constitution which states: "The
Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as
means of settling international disputes", but also declares, "land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war
potential, will never be maintained." In practice however, the Diet (or Parliament), which Article 41 of the
Constitution defines as "the highest organ of the state power", established the Self-Defense Forces in
1954. Due to the constitutional debate concerning the Forces' status, any attempt at increasing the
Forces' capabilities and budget tends to be controversial. Thus the JSDF has very limited capabilities to
operate overseas, lacks long range offensive capabilities such as long-range surface-to-surface
missiles, aerial refueling(as of 2004), marines, amphibious units, and large caches of ammunition.
The Rules of Engagement are strictly defined by the Self-Defense Forces Act 1954.

Recent reforms and developments

SM-3 is launched from the Aegis Destroyer DDG-173 Kongō

After North Korea test fired a Taepodong-1 ballistic missile over Japanese airspace[11] in August 1998,
subsequent North Korean tests[12] as well as other issues contributing to rising tensions between the two
countries[13] have led to increased interest in Japan for a ballistic missile defense (BMD) system. Japan is
in the process of deploying a multi-tiered BMD system made up of upgraded Aegis vessels and Patriot
PAC-3 missiles. Legislation that would allow authorities to authorize shooting down an incoming ballistic
missile is also being considered. In December 2004, Japan and the United States signed a memorandum
of understanding creating a general cooperation framework for joint development of a sea-based BMD
system.[9]

In November 2005, constitutional revisions were proposed which would create a cabinet level Defense
Ministry while keeping the old clauses mandating official non-aggression. Under the proposed revisions,
the JSDF would also be formally referred to as a military force for the first time since its establishment.
The new wording proposed is "In order to secure peace and the independence of our country as well as
the security of the state and the people, military forces for self-defense shall be maintained with the prime
minister of the cabinet as the supreme commander." The amendment is gaining more and more public
support in recent years.[14] On June 8 2006, the Japanese cabinet endorsed a bill elevating the Defense
[15]
Agency to Defense Ministry. This was passed by the Diet in December 2006.
Japan has also deepened its security and military ties with Australia and its leaders are talking about the
[16]
formation of a military pact in Asia similar to NATO.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Self-Defense_Forces