Thailand and Japan’s National Security Strategy

Abstract

Peace and national security constitute the supreme missions that the Government of Japan is obliged to fulfill in order to achieve its stated objectives. Historically, however, the Japanese government had not demonstrated a clear and concrete intention to formulate an explicit national security policy. Since the end of World War II, Japan has enjoyed more than seventy years of peace, grounded in a postwar nation-building philosophy that emphasizes the promotion of peace, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law as the foundations of security, stability, and economic prosperity both regionally and globally.

Accordingly, Japan’s National Security Strategy represents a core policy framework of the government, serving as the foundation of Japan’s identity as a peace-oriented state while extending toward the promotion of stability at various levels within the international arena. At the same time, the global and regional security environment—particularly in areas surrounding Japan—has grown increasingly severe. Over the past decade, North Korea has persistently developed nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, alongside the rise of cyber threats and international terrorism. These threats are transnational in nature and can easily transcend national borders. It is widely acknowledged that no single state today can safeguard its peace and security independently. Consequently, Japan expects the international community to play a more proactive role in addressing issues of peace and stability in the realm of international security.