Assessing Continuities and Changes in Japan's Space Security Blueprint 2023

Japan announced its new space security blueprint in June 2023. The new blueprint lays down a 10-year roadmap for the country to enhance the utilization of space for its military. While the announcement has been widely perceived as a 'first', it is in fact a crystallization of Japan's space security strategies over the last few decades. This article interprets the blueprint in light of Japan's counterstrike doctrine. It traces Japan's rise as a military space power since the 1970s and analyses its evolving approach to space security. Continuities and changes in the 2023 blueprint are assessed against Japan's historic policies.

Automated summary

This article interprets Japan's new space security blueprint and assesses it against the country's historic policies. It highlights the blueprint as a culmination of Japan's space security strategies over the years. The article also traces Japan's rise as a military space power and analyzes its evolving approach to space security.