BACKGROUNDER
No. 3644 | AUGUST 16, 2021
ASIAN STUDIES CENTER
This paper, in its entirety, can be found at http://report.heritage.org/bg3644
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Japanese Strike Capabilities:
Security Advantages for U.S.
Alliance, Challenges to Overcome
Bruce Klingner
Japan acquiring strike capabilities would
augment the U.S. military in the Indo-
Pacific and encourage other allies to
increase their share of the security burden.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
However, Japan and the U.S. will need to
work together to overcome numerous
constitutional legal, budgetary, technical,
and bureaucratic obstacles.
Washington should urge Japan to develop
long-range strike capabilities but incor-
porate them into the overall alliance
structure with combined operational
planning.
R
esponding to Asian security threats requires
robust U.S. forces in the region and strong alli-
ance partners. Japan’s unexpected cancellation
of a strategic missile defense system in 2020 triggered a
resurgence of debate about whether the country should
augment its defenses by acquiring strike capabilities,
i.e., the ability to conduct an attack against targets in
an opponent’s country. Disagreements raged about
whether developing such capabilities was a necessary
response to escalating regional threats or whether it
violated Japan’s pacifist constitution. There was little
attention, however, to the modalities of strike systems,
how they would be incorporated into Allied strategic
plans, or the numerous challenges that will need to be
overcome prior to deployment.
During the subsequent year, the issue faded from
public discussion, due largely to the resignation last
