Japan’s National Defense Planning for the New Security Environment: The 2010 National Defense Program Guidelines

The National Defense Program Guidelines (NDPG) is the primary document of Japan’s defense policy, setting both guidelines for defense force planning and outlining the basic principles and policies of Japan’s national security strategy. The most recent NDPG, completed in 2010, introduces several new concepts such as “dynamic deterrence” and is based on recognition of a new security environment in the region. This brief highlights the new concepts and indicates two areas that must be addressed soon in order to make the NDPG fully executable.