U.S.-Japan Alliance Conference - RAND Corporation

NATIONAL DEFENSE RESEARCH INSTITUTE

U.S.-Japan Alliance Conference

Meeting the Challenge of Amphibious Operations

Scott W. Harold, Koichiro Bansho, Jeffrey W. Hornung, Koichi Isobe, Richard L. Simcock II

Sponsored by the Government of Japan

For more information on this publication, visit t/CF387

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Preface

In order to explore the origins, development, and implications of Japan's decision to establish an Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade (ARDB) within the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF), the RAND Corporation convened a public conference on March 6, 2018, at its offices in Santa Monica, California, that brought together leading U.S. and Japanese military and security experts to explore the issue. Among these experts were two of the leading Japanese generals responsible for helping to initiate and establish the ARDB, an expert scholar on Japanese security and defense policy, and a U.S. Marine general responsible for cooperating with the JGSDF in Okinawa. The scholars and practitioners who contributed to this event were asked to evaluate the reasons for the ARDB's establishment, its deterrence and defense capabilities, its relevance for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions, the extent to which it contributes to jointness within the Japan Self-Defense Forces, its relationship with and value to the U.S. Marine Corps, and ideas for the future evolution of Japan's amphibious operations capabilities.

This work was sponsored by the Government of Japan and conducted within the International Security and Defense Policy Center of the RAND National Security Research Division (NSRD). NSRD conducts research and analysis for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Staff, the Unified Combatant Commands, the defense agencies, the Navy, the Marine Corps, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Intelligence Community, allied foreign governments, and foundations.

For more information on the RAND International Security and Defense Policy Center, see nsrd/ndri/centers/isdp or contact the director (contact information provided on the webpage).

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Table of Contents

Preface ......................................................................................................................................iii Figures ....................................................................................................................................... v Abbreviations ............................................................................................................................ vi 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 1 2. Japan's New Defense Strategy in the Southwest Islands and Development of Amphibious

Operations Capabilities ......................................................................................................... 8 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 8 The China Threat ................................................................................................................................ 8 Japan's "Southwestern Wall Strategy" ................................................................................................ 9 The Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade .................................................................................... 12 A Proposed Agenda for the ARDB's Future Evolution ...................................................................... 14 Conclusion........................................................................................................................................ 15 3. An Insider's View of the History, Evolution, and Prospects of Japan's Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade ........................................................................................................... 16 "What Is the Counterpart of the U.S. Marine Corps in the Japan Self-Defense Forces?" .................... 17 The Western Army Infantry Regiment and the Iron Fist and Dawn Blitz Exercises ............................ 18 The ARDB and HA/DR Missions...................................................................................................... 20 The Establishment of the ARDB and the Challenges Ahead .............................................................. 21 Conclusion........................................................................................................................................ 24 4. Japan's Amphibious Joint Pain ............................................................................................. 25 Japan's Quest to Develop Amphibious Operations Capabilities ......................................................... 26 Challenges to Jointness in the JSDF .................................................................................................. 32

Command and Control .................................................................................................................. 32 Communications and Information-Sharing .................................................................................... 35 Fires ............................................................................................................................................. 37 Equipment .................................................................................................................................... 40 Conclusion........................................................................................................................................ 45 5. The ARDB, the USMC, the U.S.?Japan Alliance, and a Free and Open Indo-Pacific ............ 47 Background ...................................................................................................................................... 47 The Relevance of the Pacific to U.S. National Security...................................................................... 48 The U.S.?Japan Alliance and Japanese Forces' Complementarity with the United States ................... 49 Suggestions for the Way Forward...................................................................................................... 53 The Past Is the Key to the Future....................................................................................................... 57 6. Conclusion............................................................................................................................ 59 References ................................................................................................................................ 61

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Figures

Figure 2.1. Japan's "Southwestern Wall Strategy" .................................................................... 10 Figure 2.2. Location of Yonaguni Island, the Southwest Islands, and Taiwan ........................... 11 Figure 2.3. The ARDB's Disposition and Organization............................................................. 14 Figure 4.1. Planned Deployments of JGSDF Units in the Southwest Islands ............................. 29 Figure 5.1. Deployment Status of Major Units in the Southwest Islands.................................... 56

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Abbreviations

A2/AD AAV ARDB ASM ATF ATLA BMD C2 C4ISR

CAS DDH DOTMLPF-I

FY HA/DR IAMD ISR JASDF JCG JGSDF JMSDF JSDF JSO JTF LCAC LST MARFORPAC PLA PRC

anti-access/area denial amphibious assault vehicle Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade air-to-ship missile amphibious task force Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics Agency (Japan) ballistic missile defense command and control command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance

and reconnaissance close air support helicopter destroyer Doctrine, Organization, Training, Materiel, Leadership, Personnel,

Facilities, and Interoperability fiscal year humanitarian assistance and disaster relief integrated air and missile defense intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance Japan Air Self-Defense Force Japan Coast Guard Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Japan Self-Defense Forces Joint Staff Office (Japan) joint task force landing craft, air-cushioned landing ship, tank U.S. Marine Forces, Pacific People's Liberation Army (China) People's Republic of China

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SAM SSM USARPAC USMC USN WAiR

surface-to-air missile surface-to-ship missile U.S. Army Pacific U.S. Marine Corps U.S. Navy Western Army Infantry Regiment

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