Growing apprehension in China prompts Japan's pacifist government to grapple with increasing military personnel numbers

Japan's Self-Defense Forces (SDF) are aiming to beef up their numbers in response to growing concerns over China's territorial ambitions, but recruitment efforts are proving challenging. The SDF aimed to hire nearly 20,000 people in 2023, but managed to recruit only half that number.

The public's reluctance to engage with defense-related issues is a significant factor in this recruitment struggle. Japanese citizens have lingering memories of the nation's militarist past, which has resulted in a general distance from defense matters.

Despite this, young recruits like Takuma Hiyane, a 19-year-old former high school badminton player, express excitement about launching their military careers, even amidst geopolitical turbulence. Hiyane, a trainee in the Japanese armed forces, stated that he has learned the spirit and skills of the SDF and feels he has grown during his initial training.

The current number of personnel in the SDF is approximately 247,000, and the Ministry of Defense aims to increase this number to about 265,000 by the end of the 2027 fiscal year. To achieve this, the SDF is seeking a wide range of personnel for roles in cybersecurity, space defense, electromagnetic warfare, and intelligence work.

However, several factors are acting as deterrents for young Japanese recruits. Dangerous duties, low pay, and a young retirement age are all contributing to the recruitment challenges. Japan's low birth rate, shrinking population, and tight labor market are further complicating matters.

The Japanese constitution, drafted by the US after World War II, bans the use of force and does not recognize the SDF as a formal military. This is another hurdle in the recruitment process, as the public strongly opposes any amendment to the constitution to grant the SDF formal military status.

Tokyo wants to increase its military spending to two percent of its gross domestic product by the end of the 2027 fiscal year. This increase in spending is intended to support the expansion of the SDF, particularly in southwestern regions, where there is a majority of US military facilities, such as Okinawa. Here, Japanese trainees undergo physical training and mock combat exercises.

Ryoichi Oriki, the former head of the Joint Staff of the SDF, expressed a desire for greater public understanding about national defense. This understanding is crucial for the success of Japan's recruitment efforts and its overall defense strategy.

In a Gallup International survey, only nine percent of Japanese respondents said they would fight for the country if there was a war. This compares with greater willingness in some other countries, with 46 percent of South Koreans, 41 percent of Americans, and 34 percent of Canadians saying they would fight.

Japan's concerns over China's territorial ambitions are not unfounded. The country fears a potential conflict with China over Taiwan, which could involve the United States and drag in Japan. As such, the recruitment and expansion of the SDF are of utmost importance to Japan's national security.

Growing apprehension in China prompts Japan's pacifist government to grapple with increasing military personnel numbers