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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 07 May 2025
[By most standards, Japan is now the world's number two naval power. This article, and the accompanying Asahi Shimbun series on Japan's four year Maritime Self Defense Force deployment to the Indian Ocean, reveals how far Japan's military reach now extends within the framework of US-Japan alliance. See the five-part Asahi Shinbun report, Japans New Blue Water Navy: A Four-Year Indian Ocean Mission Recasts the Constitution and the US- Japan Alliance
[1] See Gavan McCormack, “Japan's Afghan adventure”, Japan in the World, November 5, 2001. www.iwanami.co.jp/jpworld/text/Afghanexpedition01.html
[2] The supply statistics are set out in Kaijou Bokuryou Kanbu, Hokyuu yusou kyouryoku shien katsudou nado no jisseki ni tsuite, H17 (2005).1 2.6 www.jda.go.jp/JMSDF/about/haken/hakenkyouryoku/sienkatudou/index.html. The Indian Ocean rotations are set out in detail in Kantei no shutsunyuu minato kiroku, H17(2005).12.6. www.jda.go.jp/JMSDF/about/haken/hakenkyouryoku/kantei/index.html, and in “Jieitai Indoyou Haken”, Wikipedia - Japanese edition, (accessed, 24.2.2006).
[3] See also Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Achievement of Operation Enduring FreedomMaritime Interdiction Operation (OEF-MIO)”, October 2005, www.mofa.go.jp/policy/terrorism/effort0510.html#2
[4] A Canadian Naval Task Group similar in composition and size to the MSDF contingent was deployed in the Arabian Sea in November 2001, and is still on station under the code name of Operation Apollo. See “Canada's Military Contribution To The International Campaign Against Terrorism” www.navy.forces.gc.ca/mspa_operations/operations_e.asp?x=1&id=5, and “Canada's Naval Task Group Arrives In Arabian Sea”, CJTFSWA 01-01 - November 23, 2 001, www.forces.gc.ca/site/newsroom/view_news_e.asp?id=294. There is a detailed and useful account of the Canadian Marine Interdiction Operations in United States Central Command, Canada.
[5] Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) Maritime Interdiction Exercise “Team Samurai 04” (Overview and Evaluation), October 28, 2004. www.mofa.go.jp/policy/un/disarmament/arms/psi/overview0410.html
[6] See “Commands we train”, Center for Surface Combat Systems detachment, Yokosuka, US Navy, www.yoko.atrc.navy.mil/commands.htm
[7] Danford W. Middlemiss and Denis Stairs, “The Canadian Forces and the Doctrine of Interoperability: The Issues”, Policy Matters/Enjeux Publics, June 2002, Vol. 3, No. 7. www.irpp.org/pm/archive/pmvol3no7.pdf
[8] For data on ASDF Middle East operations to February 2006 see ASDF, Iraku fukkou shien haken yusou koukuutai ni yoru yusou katsudou jisseki”, www.jda.go.jp/jasdf/iraq/jisseki.htm. For ASDF contingent rotations see ASDF, Iraku fukkou shien haken yusou koukuutai, www.jda.go.jp/jasdf/iraq/iraq_contents.htm
[9] This is evident when writing on the MSDF deployments is compared with the work of activist-researchers such as Peace Depot's Umebayashi Hiromichi, whose creative use of the US Freedom of Information Law has made it possible to document important new understandings of the US Aegis-class missile defense patrols in the Sea of Japan. See his “Okushirijima seihou 190 km sakusen kuiki”, Kaku Heiki/Jiken Monitaa (239), August 1, 2005, online at www.peacedepot.org/nmtr/bcknmbr/nmtr239.pdf
[10] For example, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs press release announcing the October 2005 extension of this law was headed: Japan decides to continue to dispatch MSDF vessels to the Indian Ocean in order to support international efforts to fight against terrorism (Extension of the Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Law). www.mofa.go.jp/policy/terrorism/measure0510.html
[11] Richard Tanter, “Japanese Militarization and the Bush Doctrine”, Japan Focus, (221) www.japanfocus.org/article.asp?id=221, and at length in Richard Tanter, “With Eyes Wide Shut: Japan, Heisei Militarization, and the Bush Doctrine”, in Confronting the Bush Doctrine: Critical Views from the Asia-Pacific, edited by Peter Van Ness and Mel Gurtov, (RoutledgeCurzon, 2005).
[12] See GlobalSecurity.com, Japan Maritime Self Defence Force Nihon Kaijyo Jieitai, www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/japan/jmsdf.htm
[13] For a brief but insightful examination of an emerging case for a reassessment of this claim with respect to China, see You Ji, “A New Era for Chinese Naval Expansion”, China Brief, Volume 6, Issue 5 (March 02, 2006) : “The PLAN is firmly committed to move in the direction of achieving partial superiority in a specific war situation relatively close to home waters. This will force the navy to add more advanced warships and sophisticated IW measures in the years to come. Consequently, this persistent modernization will gradually produce capabilities for long-range power projection beyond the initial combat design. The civilian leadership seems to have committed itself to providing enough national resources to this naval leap forward. Liu Huaqing's blue-water dream may be brought to reality sooner than we expect.”
[14] The 200-strong ASDF contingent operating three C-130 Hercules transports is currently based in Kuwait, and flies regularly into southern Iraq. Recent reports suggest it will operate more widely in Iraq itself, and from Qatar. See “SDF to pull out from Iraq in April- May”, Nikkei Net Interactive, February 27, 2006
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