The most important feature of Japan's latest white paper on defense is that it gives new direction to the nation's defense policy. First, the report emphasizes that developing a missile defense system is a "matter of urgent importance for defense policy."
The Defense Agency has been studying ways of defending the country since 2001. The 9/11 terrorist attacks in particular have highlighted the importance of acquiring capabilities to meet "new threats," or asymmetrical attacks, such as those involving weapons of mass destruction, ballistic missiles, terrorist acts and cyber-attacks.
Second, the report defines international peacekeeping operations as "one of the major activities" of the Self-Defense Forces. The government is studying plans to establish permanent legislation that would make it a primary duty for the SDF to make these international peace contributions.