The global security environment has changed and it is no longer possible for any nation to maintain peace on its own. There are factors for instability in the environment surrounding Japan, such as North Korea, which could spin out of control at any time, and China, which is vigilantly watching for an opportunity to expand its maritime interests. To protect Japan, it is necessary to establish security in the surrounding region and, furthermore, globally, and to also establish preparedness for immediate response to emergencies.

In January 2007, China conducted a successful demonstration of a trial to destroy a satellite with a ground-launched missile. China has been developing its own GPS independent from the U.S. system, clearly indicating its intention to challenge the United States’ dominance of space. The threat of cyber-attacks by terrorist nations and other terrorist actors targeting computers at power generation plants and air traffic control centers has also been increasing. The stage for national security is shifting to space and cyberspace.

While the relative power of U.S. armed forces is declining, the security environment in the East Asian region has become increasingly challenging, namely, the situation in North Korea has become unstable and China is aiming to expand its maritime interests. In addition to its provocative actions around the Senkaku Islands, China is causing conflicts over territorial rights in the South China Sea. We must face up to the fact that we must protect our country ourselves and, instead of averting our eyes away from national defense issues, need to make serious efforts to develop national security policies for this new era.