Experts say the reorganization bears a transparent “offensive” character. Japan’s accelerating army buildup underscores its “remilitarization” ambitions, posing a menace to regional peace and stability.
TOKYO, March 29 (Xinhua) — The Japanese authorities, led by Sanae Takaichi, has just lately carried out a sweeping reorganization of the Self-Defense Forces (SDF), together with what it calls the “largest-ever reorganization” of the Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF), together with an enlargement of operations within the cognitive area and the enlargement of the Space Operations Group.
Experts say the reorganization bears a transparent “offensive” character. Japan’s accelerating army buildup underscores its “remilitarization” ambitions, posing a menace to regional peace and stability.
LARGEST REORGANIZATION IN HISTORY
The most vital modifications on this reorganization concern the MSDF. Its foremost models, the Fleet Escort Force and the Mine Warfare Force, have been disbanded and consolidated right into a newly established Fleet Surface Force, which centralizes command and management over destroyers, minesweepers and different floor vessels.
Through the shakeup, the Fleet Surface Force will include three floor warfare teams, together with a Patrol and Defense Group and an Amphibious and Mine Warfare Group.
Established in 1961, the Fleet Escort Force has a protracted historical past, which is why some Japanese media have described this overhaul as “the biggest reorganization” within the historical past of the MSDF.
Lu Hao, an skilled from the Institute of Japanese Studies on the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, mentioned this reorganization breaks with the MSDF’s custom of organizing models by vessel kind. The transfer, he mentioned, is to construct a extra built-in, combat-ready fleet, laying the groundwork for making a service strike group.
Japanese media additionally reported that the headquarters of the Amphibious and Mine Warfare Group is situated in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, enabling nearer coordination with the Ground Self-Defense Force’s (GSDF) Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade, additionally headquartered in Sasebo.
The Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade, Japan’s equal of the Marine Corps, bears distinctly offensive traits.
The MSDF has additionally built-in models chargeable for intelligence, cyber operations, communications and oceanographic commentary right into a newly established Information Warfare/Operations Command, comprising about 3,200 personnel. In parallel, the GSDF has additionally created a brand new intelligence operations unit.
According to Japan’s Defense Ministry, these models will probably be tasked with responding to the so-called “information warfare.”
Additionally, the Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF) plans to improve its present Space Operations Group, which is chargeable for outer area monitoring, right into a Space Operations Wing, almost doubling its personnel from about 310 to round 670, with an additional enlargement to roughly 880 personnel deliberate by fiscal 2026.
The Defense Ministry additionally intends to rename the ASDF into the Air and Space Self-Defense Force throughout the identical time interval.
Notably, the phrases “warfare” and “operations” characteristic prominently within the names of newly established or reorganized models, whereas the Fleet Surface Force has additionally dropped the phrase “escort” from its designation. Some Japanese media have bluntly described this reorganization as an “offensive restructuring.”
Fan Xiaoju, a analysis professor on the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, mentioned the modifications are a part of the Japanese authorities’s technique of so-called “fundamental reinforcement of defense capabilities,” aimed toward reaching offensive army ambitions with restricted personnel and gear.
ACCELERATING “REMILITARIZATION”
Japan has been on a sustained path of army enlargement for years. Since taking workplace, Takaichi has additional accelerated this tempo, pushing forward with what critics describe as “remilitarization.”
This month, the nation started deploying long-range missiles with what it calls “counterstrike capabilities,” which is, in impact, the aptitude to strike enemy bases.
Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi just lately mentioned that deliveries of U.S.-made Tomahawk cruise missiles and Norwegian-developed Joint Strike Missiles to the Self-Defense Forces have begun.
The Ministry of Defense has additionally delivered a launcher for the upgraded Type 12 surface-to-ship missile to Camp Kengun in Kumamoto City. The system is ready to be formally deployed by the tip of this month.
Though designated as an “anti-ship missile,” the upgraded Type 12 can be able to hanging land targets. With a spread of about 1,000 km, it will possibly attain the territories of neighboring international locations from Japan.
The ministry additionally confirmed that development of the primary Aegis System Equipped Vessel (ASEV) had begun in July 2025. The vessel is predicted to be geared up with Tomahawk cruise missiles and a ship-launched improved variant of the Type 12 missile at the moment beneath improvement.
Experts mentioned the fast improvement and deployment of a number of offensive weapons present that Japan has stopped pretending to comply with its long-held defensive army coverage. In observe, Japan’s solely defense-oriented coverage has turn into meaningless.
Fan mentioned Japan’s sequence of army strikes displays a overseas and safety coverage more and more targeted on prioritizing army energy and enhancing “deterrence.”
THREATENING REGIONAL PEACE
Japan’s relentless army enlargement and improvement of offensive capabilities lay naked its remilitarization ambitions, posing a critical menace to regional peace and stability whereas doubtlessly backfiring on Japan itself.
Hiroshi Shiratori, a professor with Japan’s Hosei University, mentioned that deploying long-range missiles able to hanging enemy bases, in impact, provides Japan the means to assault different international locations, deviating from its pacifist coverage.
He mentioned that the reorganization of the SDF and deployment of long-range missiles will additional strengthen offensive capabilities and intensify regional tensions.
Japanese public figures have additionally identified that whereas the nation faces quite a few financial and social challenges, the Takaichi authorities stays obsessive about strengthening army energy and feeding the military-industrial complicated. Ultimately, they warn, such insurance policies will hurt Japan’s financial improvement and social well-being, and lead the nation down a harmful path.
Lu mentioned that Japan is in search of to interrupt free from the constraints of the postwar order by growing offensive army capabilities, whereas additionally selling army integration with the United States and serving to Washington consolidate and strengthen its alliance system.
Such strikes may intensify bloc confrontation and spark a regional arms race. The irony, he mentioned, is that such a Japan nonetheless claims to be a “stabilizer” for regional peace and safety.