By Wang Min
王 敏
Recently, Japan's Ministry of Defense released its first-ever Space Domain Defense Guidelines (the Guidelines) , in which it deliberately exaggerates space threats and calls for strengthening space defense capabilities to counter so-called "killer satellites." Analysts think that Japan, under the guise of responding to "space threats," is in fact pushing forward with space militarization measures that will further undermine regional peace and stability.
近日，日本防卫省发布首份《宇宙领域防卫指针》（以下简称《指针》），大肆渲染太空威胁，要求强化太空防卫能力以应对所谓“杀手卫星”。分析人士认为，日本以所谓“太空威胁”为借口，极力推行太空军事化举措，将进一步冲击地区安全与稳定。
Stripping away its defensive veneer, the Guidelines are rife with ambitions to break through the "exclusively defense-oriented" principle and build offensive capabilities in the space domain. In terms of equipment, Japan has declared its intention to develop so-called "bodyguard satellites" capable of intercepting and destroying other countries' orbital assets, with verification tests planned by 2029. These satellites are designed not only for reconnaissance and jamming, but also for direct collision with foreign satellites, making them, in effect, offensive weapons in outer space.
剥开其“防御性”外衣，《指针》字里行间充斥着日本突破“专守防卫”原则、构建太空领域进攻性战力的图谋与野心。在装备方面，日本宣称要开发可拦截攻击他国轨道目标的“保镖卫星”，计划2029年前完成实证试验。这种卫星不仅具备侦察、干扰能力，还可直接碰撞他国卫星，可谓名副其实的太空进攻性武器。
On the front of allied cooperation, the Guidelines stress strengthening collaboration with partners in satellite defense, advancing interoperability of satellite systems, and actively joining multilateral frameworks such as joint space operations initiatives, all aimed at enhancing systematized warfighting capabilities in space. In parallel, Japan unveiled its Next-Generation Intelligence and Communications Strategy, which targets data transmission between satellites and between satellites and command centers, essentially constructing the neural network for future space warfare. Moreover, Japanese Defense Minister Nakatani Gen recently inspected the Space Operations Squadron, where he openly encouraged the integration of civilian technologies to boost Japan's space combat capabilities.
在与盟友合作方面，《指针》强调要加强与盟友在卫星防护领域的合作，推进卫星系统互联互通，积极参与联合太空作战倡议等多国间框架，为提高太空体系化作战能力提供助力。日方同步推出的《下一代情报通信战略》，剑指卫星间、卫星与司令部间的数据传输能力，为未来太空作战搭建神经网络。此外，日本防卫相中谷元不久前在视察“宇宙作战群”时鼓励吸收民间技术，发展太空战力。
The deeper strategic intent of the Guidelines lies in Japan's so-called stand-off defense capabilities, with space playing a central role in enhancing this capacity. According to the Guidelines, Japan plans to establish a LEO satellite constellation composed of numerous small satellites to strengthen surveillance over surrounding areas. It should be noted that Japan is simultaneously advancing long-range missile deployments. By the end of 2025, it intends to station upgraded Type 12 missiles at a military base in Kumamoto, Kyushu, with plans to expand deployments to Oita Prefecture and Okinawa. Meanwhile, Japan is actively pushing forward the development and deployment of Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGVs) and Hypersonic Cruise Missiles (HCMs) equipped with scramjet engines. These weapons are expected to work in tandem with satellite assets to gradually shape Japan's offensive military capabilities.
《指针》更深层的战略布局潜藏在所谓的防区外防卫能力中。日本明确提及利用太空来增强这一能力。根据《指针》，日本将建设由大量小型卫星组成的低轨“卫星星座”项目，加强对周边监控。值得注意的是，日本已同步推进远程导弹部署，计划在2025年末于九州地区熊本市的军事基地部署改进型12式导弹，未来将扩展部署至大分县和冲绳县。同时，日本还在紧锣密鼓地推进高超音速滑翔弹以及配备超燃冲压发动机的高超音速巡航导弹的研发部署工作。这些武器未来将与卫星力量相配合，共同推动日本进攻性战力的成型。
The Guidelines are regarded by the international community as the latest manifestation of Japan's transformation in space strategy. Since officially designating space as a strategic domain vital to national survival in 2018, Japan has accelerated the militarization of its space activities in recent years. In 2020, Japan established its first dedicated space unit, the Space Operations Unit, which was expanded in 2022 to the Space Operations Squadron and is now being elevated to the Space Operations Corps. By 2027, the Air Self-Defense Force is also set to be renamed the Air and Space Self-Defense Force. This expansion and restructuring reflect Japan's growing urgency to secure a dominant position in space. Moreover, Japan has continuously increased its financial commitments. In FY2025, its defense budget surged to 8.7 trillion yen, with 283.2 billion yen allocated specifically to space operations, including the development of the LEO satellite constellation project.
《指针》被国际社会视为日本太空战略转型的最新体现。在2018年将太空列为“事关生死存亡”的战略领域后，近年来日本太空军事化的步伐不断加快。2020年，日本成立首支太空专门部队“宇宙作战队”，2022年又扩编为“宇宙作战群”，如今再向“宇宙作战团”跃进。2027年，航空自卫队还将更名为航空宇宙自卫队。编制的膨胀与调整折射出其争夺太空优势地位的紧迫感。此外，日本不断扩大财政投入，2025财年防卫预算飙升至8.7万亿日元，其中太空作战领域投入2832亿日元，用于建设低轨“卫星星座”项目。
Japan's trajectory of space expansion has been closely intertwined with the US and other Western powers. At the end of last year, the US established a new US Space Command in Japan to enhance bilateral cooperation in space monitoring and information sharing. Not long ago, Japan participated in space defense exercises under the Exercise Talisman Sabre framework led by the US and Australia. The Trump administration's rollout of the next-generation space-based missile defense system, Golden Dome, has also seen Japan seeking to join in. These developments indicate that Japan increasingly regards the space domain as a new platform to strengthen the Japan-US military alliance and further pursue military liberalization.
日本太空扩张路径始终与美西方深度交织。去年年底，美国在日本新设驻日美军太空司令部，以加强两国在太空监控和信息共享方面的合作。前不久，日本参加了由美国、澳大利亚主导的“护身军刀”联合军演框架下的太空防卫演习。特朗普政府推出新一代天基反导系统“金穹”，日本也试图参与其中。种种迹象表明，日本正将太空领域视作强化日美军事同盟的新阵地，借此进一步实现军事松绑。
It is worth noting that while Japan loudly emphasizes space threats, it is simultaneously advancing ever further down the path of developing anti-satellite weapons. In May this year, Japan's Ministry of Defense, for the first time in a bidding document, introduced the concepts of an "aerospace mothership" and "aerospace aircraft." While ostensibly intended for space debris removal, these systems conceal military purposes and could be used in wartime to destroy other countries' satellites, raising serious international concern. The world will not forget that Japan once ignited the flame of war in the Asia-Pacific under the banner of self-defense, and it must not be allowed to turn space into a powder keg once again.
需要指出的是，日本高调渲染太空威胁，自身却在发展反卫星武器的道路上越走越远。今年5月，日本防卫省在招标文件中首次提到“航宙母舰”“航宙机”的概念，表面宣称用于清理太空垃圾，实则暗藏军事目的，战时可用于摧毁他国卫星，引发外界高度警惕。世人不会忘记，日本曾以“自卫”之名在亚太点燃战火，如今也绝不容忍它再次将火药桶布设到太空。