Chapter IV Military Deployment
In 2015, according to the principles, goals and the overall redeployment plan of operational units proposed by the “three arrows of security and defense policies”, Japan made significant adjustments to JSDF deployment on the basis of NDPG and MDP. The overall goals of military
deployment adjustments focus on the enhancement of defense posture in the southwestern area and give priority to the development of capabilities to ensure maritime and air supremacy for thepurpose of deterring and responding to various scenarios. The goal of JGSDF adjustment is to promote efficient command and management of the sector headquarters to ensure rapid and flexible actions with the borders so as to respond effectively and rapidly to such scenarios as island invasions. The goal of JMSDF is to carry out intelligence gathering, monitoring and surveillance, anti-submarine operations on regular basis so as to ensure effective defense in the surrounding waters, safety of maritime transportation, and participation in international peacekeeping operations. In order to improve air defense capabilities in the southwestern area of Japan and to enhance air surveillance units, the goal of JASDF adjustment is to construct an integrated air defense system of fighters and support units, a critical area air defense system that includes surface-to-air missile units from JASDF, and a multi-layer anti-missile system that includes the Aegis destroyers from JMSDF.
More specifically, the main measures of the military deployment of 2015 include：
For JGSDF, in order to strength warning and surveillance capabilities in the southwestern islands, the surveillance and monitoring unit will obtain the land for construction of barracks on ground of the lease contract formally signed by the Defense Ministry and the local government of Yonaguni. Preparation offices are set up in charge of the establishment of the headquarters of the Ground Central Command in FY 2017 to unify the command of the existing five armies）.
For JASDF, in order to maintain and enhance the airborne combat capabilities, the 304 Tactical Fighter Squadron（equipped with F-15 fighters） deployed at Tsuiki will be shifted to the Naha Air Base, Okinawa and will be combined with the 204 Tactical Fighter Squadron based
there to form the 9 Air Division as a substitute for the 83 Tactical Fighter Squadron stationed at Okinawa, thus doubling Japan’s fighter capabilities in this area.
For JMSDF, in order to strengthen its close links with JGSDF, JASDF, the US forces and the concerned ministries and agencies and to improve its capabilities to respond to various matters, Japan intends to establish, at Funakoshicho, Yokosuka, the Maritime Operation Center, of which the first construction phase will be mainly set about in 2015. As to the buildup of the amphibious unit, the fundamental and auxiliary facilities are being under construction. For example, Japan plans to transform the well-deck of Osumi-class LST, thus enabling it to carry amphibious combat vehicles. It also prepares to construct a base for the amphibious operation brigade to provide maintenance facilities for AVV-7 armored vehicles, and another one for the MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft.
In 2015, Japan’s military deployment that most clearly denotes its strategic intention is to reinforce its surveillance and containment of China in the areas of the southwestern islands and the First Island Chain. In 2015, with strategic competitions and military tensions between China and the U.S. in the region, in order to answer America’s request to contain China’s military activities in the East Sea and the South Sea, Japan accelerates its paces to help the U.S. to contain China’s military development. For example, in February, the Japanese authorities, for the first time, confirmed that the construction of a large intelligence monitoring base has begun in the island of Yanaguni. In November, the Japanese defense minister, on behalf of the Defense Ministry, held meetings with the municipal government of Ishigaki,announcing the Japanese government plansto deploy JGSDF units at Ishigaki so as to enhance the defense capabilities in the southwestern islands and formally appealing to the local government to accept the plan. The Japanese Defense Ministry states that, according to the plan, warning and surveillance units, surface-to-air and surface-to-ship missile units will be deployed there, and the number of personnel will be about 500. In addition, a coastal surveillance unit is to be deployed at Naha Island in March, 2016, and a coastal surveillance unit of 700 personnel and a missile unit of 500 personnel will be deployed respectively at the island of Miyako and Amami-Oshima Island in 2018. By all the steps, Japan plans to enhance the defense of the East Sea Island Chain--deploying a series of sophisticated radars, air defense missiles and anti-ship missiles on more than 200 islands in the area extending as long as 1,400 kilometers from the Japanese mainland to Taiwan.
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