The acquisition of Tomahawk cruise missiles will strengthen Japan's ability to strike back at regional adversaries in the event of war. The subsonic cruise missile can be fired from surface ships, such as in this case of a launch from the USS Curtis Wilbur in the Philippine Sea in May 2019. (US Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Taylor DiMartino)

The Japanese government has approved three new security documents that will reshape the country's military strategy, increase the national defence budget, and allow Tokyo to acquire a counter-strike missile capability.

Approved on 16 December, by the Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's cabinet, the National Security Strategy (NSS) document will set the framework for Tokyo's future thinking about national security. The other two documents − the National Defense Strategy (NDS) and the Defense Program (DP) − will create a road map for the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) to fulfil the government's future defence mandate.

The acquisition of Tomahawk cruise missiles will strengthen Japan's ability to strike back at regional adversaries in the event of war. The subsonic cruise missile can be fired from surface ships, such as in this case of a launch from the USS Curtis Wilbur in the Philippine Sea in May 2019. (US Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Taylor DiMartino)

The Japanese government has approved three new security documents that will reshape the country's military strategy, increase the national defence budget, and allow Tokyo to acquire a counter-strike missile capability.

Approved on 16 December, by the Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's cabinet, the National Security Strategy (NSS) document will set the framework for Tokyo's future thinking about national security. The other two documents − the National Defense Strategy (NDS) and the Defense Program (DP) − will create a road map for the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) to fulfil the government's future defence mandate.

The acquisition of Tomahawk cruise missiles will strengthen Japan's ability to strike back at regional adversaries in the event of war. The subsonic cruise missile can be fired from surface ships, such as in this case of a launch from the USS Curtis Wilbur in the Philippine Sea in May 2019. (US Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Taylor DiMartino)

The Japanese government has approved three new security documents that will reshape the country's military strategy, increase the national defence budget, and allow Tokyo to acquire a counter-strike missile capability.

Approved on 16 December, by the Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's cabinet, the National Security Strategy (NSS) document will set the framework for Tokyo's future thinking about national security. The other two documents − the National Defense Strategy (NDS) and the Defense Program (DP) − will create a road map for the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) to fulfil the government's future defence mandate.

The acquisition of Tomahawk cruise missiles will strengthen Japan's ability to strike back at regional adversaries in the event of war. The subsonic cruise missile can be fired from surface ships, such as in this case of a launch from the USS Curtis Wilbur in the Philippine Sea in May 2019. (US Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Taylor DiMartino)

The Japanese government has approved three new security documents that will reshape the country's military strategy, increase the national defence budget, and allow Tokyo to acquire a counter-strike missile capability.

Approved on 16 December, by the Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's cabinet, the National Security Strategy (NSS) document will set the framework for Tokyo's future thinking about national security. The other two documents − the National Defense Strategy (NDS) and the Defense Program (DP) − will create a road map for the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) to fulfil the government's future defence mandate.

The acquisition of Tomahawk cruise missiles will strengthen Japan's ability to strike back at regional adversaries in the event of war. The subsonic cruise missile can be fired from surface ships, such as in this case of a launch from the USS Curtis Wilbur in the Philippine Sea in May 2019. (US Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Taylor DiMartino)

The Japanese government has approved three new security documents that will reshape the country's military strategy, increase the national defence budget, and allow Tokyo to acquire a counter-strike missile capability.

Approved on 16 December, by the Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's cabinet, the National Security Strategy (NSS) document will set the framework for Tokyo's future thinking about national security. The other two documents − the National Defense Strategy (NDS) and the Defense Program (DP) − will create a road map for the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) to fulfil the government's future defence mandate.

The acquisition of Tomahawk cruise missiles will strengthen Japan's ability to strike back at regional adversaries in the event of war. The subsonic cruise missile can be fired from surface ships, such as in this case of a launch from the USS Curtis Wilbur in the Philippine Sea in May 2019. (US Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Taylor DiMartino)

The Japanese government has approved three new security documents that will reshape the country's military strategy, increase the national defence budget, and allow Tokyo to acquire a counter-strike missile capability.

Approved on 16 December, by the Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's cabinet, the National Security Strategy (NSS) document will set the framework for Tokyo's future thinking about national security. The other two documents − the National Defense Strategy (NDS) and the Defense Program (DP) − will create a road map for the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) to fulfil the government's future defence mandate.