By Wang Min
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.
Stripping away its defensive veneer, the Guidelinesare 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.
On the front of allied cooperation, the Guidelinesstress 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.
The deeper strategic intent ofthe Guidelineslies 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.
The Guidelinesare 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.
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.
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.