By Sun Wenzhu
The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) recently upgraded its Space Operations Group, which is responsible for space surveillance, to a Space Operations Wing, doubling its personnel from about 310 to around 670. Japan plans to further upgrade the wing to a space operations command by fiscal year 2026, expanding the force to approximately 880 personnel. This move reveals Japan's strategic ambition of continuous military buildup and "remilitarization," which endangers regional peace and stability.
In recent years, Japan has ramped up investment in emerging domains such as space and cyberspace, focusing on enhancing offensive strength in a bid to achieve the so-called "fundamental strengthening of defense capabilities."
In the space domain, Japan has poured large funds into developing equipment including low-orbit satellite constellations, "bodyguard" satellites, aerospace aircraft, and aerospace mother ships, aiming to enhance space reconnaissance, space-based guidance, and anti-satellite capabilities. The JASDF also plans to rename itself the Japan Air and Space Self-Defense Force by the end of fiscal year 2026.
In terms of cyberspace, Japan has put forward the so-called "active cyber defense" concept, which allows the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) to carry out intrusion, disruption, and paralysis operations against overseas targets in peacetime to achieve preemption through proactive cyberattacks. To this end, Japan plans a major expansion of its cyber warfare units. It aims to increase the core personnel of JSDF's cyber-related units from about 2,000 to 4,000 by 2027, and establish "information warfare units" in the Ground and Maritime Self-Defense Forces to comprehensively boost cyber offensive and defensive capabilities.
The Japanese government has also deliberately converted commercial and civilian technological achievements in space and cyberspace domains for military and security purposes, providing multi-dimensional and systematic resource support for its military buildup. In the space domain, Japan's Ministry of Defense issued the Space Domain Defense Guidelines, advocating close cooperation between the ministry and the research institutions and enterprises to match defense plans and military requirements with scientific research and commercial applications, and integrate civilian technology and funding to reduce R&D costs. As for cyberspace, the Japanese government established the so-called National Cybersecurity Office (NCO) in 2025 to coordinate cybersecurity resources of the JSDF, the National Police Agency, and National Intelligence Agency . It has integrated civilian technologies, data, and facilities into its national security system and built a so-called "domestic technology ecosystem" to lay institutional and industrial foundations for future "hybrid warfare."
In addition, Japan attaches great importance to strengthening "strategic binding" with the US military and other US military alliances in the above domains. The US and Japanese cyber forces have continuously honed joint operation capabilities through multiple joint training exercises such as Keen Sword and Orient Shield. The JASDF has repeatedly participated in US space exercises including Space Flag, seeking to build mutually compatible space technology, intelligence-sharing, and space warfare systems. Japan has also actively stepped up cyber and space technology cooperation with NATO, the Five Eyes, the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), and other military security mechanisms, attempting to seize the competitive edge in the cutting-edge defense technology and enhance its strategic influence through the opportunities.
As a defeated country in World War II, Japan ought to abide by its commitments, act prudently, and maintain good-neighborly relations in the field of military and security. However, Japan has kept developing offensive military capabilities in space, cyberspace, and other domains, and sought "military expansion and alliance formation," going further on the dangerous path of seeking loosening military restrictions and deviating from its pacifist Constitution. Japan's "neo-militarism," which is extremely radical, distorts history, disregards people's livelihood, and is obsessed with military expansion. Therefore, the international community must stay highly vigilant against it.
(The author is from the China Institute of International Studies)