International security

Japan's Increasingly Uncertain Security Environment

Japan’s defense reforms are largely motivated by a need to respond to an uncertain security environment. Due to increased tensions around the Senkaku/Diaoyu, for example, the Ministry plans to establish an amphibious unit by the end of fiscal 2018. In a step toward this goal, the third round of landing exercises conducted jointly by the Ground and Maritime Self-Defense Forces (GSDF and MSDF, respectively) were held over six days starting on April 11.