The 2007 white paper on defense, the first such government report since the Defense Agency was upgraded to the Defense Ministry, stresses that the Self-Defense Forces must become an organization that can better cope with crises and contribute to world peace, saying the days are gone in which the SDF could be content with concentrating on building deterrence against invasion.
In line with the revision of the SDF Law, which upgraded the SDF's overseas activities to a level on par with the defense of the national territory, the white paper says that the SDF is required not only to deal squarely with problems happening both at home and abroad in order to protect the Japanese people's lives and property, but also to cooperate with foreign countries to promote world peace.
The Defense Ministry's fervor is apparent. But it becomes all the more important, as the white paper says, that the SDF faithfully follow the policy of a strictly defensive defense and the principle of Japan not becoming a military power under civilian control if the SDF's activities overseas expand as expected.