The government has taken the unusual step of releasing a summary of expert opinion that shows overwhelming support for Japan to acquire a first-strike capability against enemy bases despite growing public skepticism over moves to significantly increase defense spending without controversy to date.
The result comes on the back of government efforts since January to give defense experts a voice ahead of the year-end compilation of a revised national security strategy.
The views of 52 experts were heard in 17 meetings. Among those who spoke were former Defense Minister Satoshi Morimoto, former head of the National Security Secretariat Shotaro Yachi and former Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff of the Self-Defense Forces Ryoichi Oriki.
The government published a summary of the opinion on 1 September.
In a purported effort to ensure frank expression of opinion, no names are attached to the quotes included in the 47-page document. It includes only the date and theme of the meeting as well as the names of everyone attending each session.
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party wants to raise defense spending to 2 percent or more of gross domestic product within five years to meet targets set by member nations by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Regarding Japan's ability to strike enemy bases ready to attack Japan, seven experts were in favor, with only one expressing total opposition. Others have called for a more cautious approach because such a strategic shift would mark a break from Japan's long-held stance of an exclusively defensive posture.
Among those in favor of striking enemy bases, one man argued that missile defense alone would be insufficient and that having such a capability was the only way to ensure Japan's security.
The only dissenter states that a first strike capability can only succeed if the enemy sustains damage levels beyond what he expected.
The unnamed views in the document could contribute to a major rethink of whether Japan - which is protected by the US nuclear umbrella - should maintain an exclusively defense posture.
An expert, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the limitations of a purely defensive posture were already recognized.
A sharp increase in defense spending was the overall consensus. The Kishida administration has pledged to double defense spending within five years.
The experts also called for a review of the ban on defense equipment exports, as well as a renegotiation of the three long-standing principles on nuclear weapons under which Japan will not possess, manufacture or permit such weapons in the country.
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