Japan’s Defence Industrial Policy Reform: Debates and Implications for International Cooperation

The revised National Security Strategy makes a cogent case of Japan’s evolving character as a decisive security actor. The conversation in Tokyo demonstrates a renewed sense of urgency in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Sino-US strategic contest, and post-pandemic mainstreaming of economic security. While the national debate is preoccupied with raising the cost on China, acquiring counterstrike capabilities and doubling defence spending, one area which remains relatively under-studied and yet constitutes an important pillar of national security is the defence industry. Preserving a robust defence-related technological base and supply chains is imperative for national security. Addressing this gap, this monograph situates Japanese defence industry within the framework of the Three Principles of Arms Export, and critically evaluates the challenges and opportunities with the twin objective of reinforcing defence technology and industrial base on the one hand and nurturing key strategic partnerships in the Indo-Pacific on the other.

About The Author

Dr. Titli Basu is an Associate Fellow at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA), Delhi. Her research interest delves on East Asian geopolitics, with special focus on Japan. She is a 2022 US Department of State IVLP Fellow on Regional Maritime Governance and Cooperation in the Quad. Dr. Basu was a Visiting Fellow at the National Institute for Defense Studies (NIDS), Tokyo. She was a Japan Foundation Fellow at the Institute of Social Science, The University of Tokyo. She earned her doctoral degree from Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi. Dr. Basu’s research work has been published in various international peer-reviewed journals, and her commentaries feature regularly in global forums.