Page 11 - Le Operazioni Interforze e Multinazionali nella Storia Militare - ACTA Tomo II

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“[If the U.S. helps us at a pinch] many would be always talking about ‘Japan’s de-
fense force is not matter. SDF can buy their choice within the limit of budget. There is
no problem to exercise by such equipment.’ This is not the ideal philosophy for defense
force building in an independent state. [Therefore, the concept of “Repelling Limited
and Small-Scale Aggression without External Assistance” was needed.]” 5
Moreover Akira Shiota, who was former defense councilor at the time of formulating
the Guidelines 1978, told in his oral history as the following:
“The NDPO 1976 said ‘Japan will repel limited and small-scale aggression, in prin-
ciple, without external assistance.’ But actually SDF would not repel limited and small-
scale aggression without external assistance. It was not an actual operation plan. It was
just a defense force building plan. So it only wanted to build defense force that would
be comparable strength to repel limited and small-scale aggression without external
assistance.” 6
As described above, the concept of “Repelling Limited and Small-Scale Aggression
without External Assistance” was not an operational concept but something constructed
to clarify the meaning of the “minimum necessary” for defense force building.

The guidelines 1978 and the concept of “repelling limited and small-scale aggres-
sion without external assistance”
After the Vietnam War, misgivings had arisen in Japan whether American commit-
ment in Asia would decrease or not. In response to such concerns, the Guidelines, set
forth the basis for wide-range exchanging opinions between Japan and the U.S., were
formulated to operating of joint research and training, mutual exchanging in the areas
of equipment and technology, cooperating of host nation support for the U.S. force in
Japan, and the basis for joint operation plan. In the Guidelines 1978, also, the description
of “repelling limited and small-scale aggression without external assistance” was incor-
porated. Why the concept of “Repelling Limited and Small-Scale Aggression without
External Assistance” that meant the concept for defense force building was incorporated
into the Guideline that meant operational plan? Still, was the concept operational one?
The answer is no.
Last year I interviewed with a person who was deeply committed to formulate the
Guidelines 1978 as a staff in Joint Staff Office. In this interview, about the concept of
“Repelling Limited and Small-Scale Aggression without External Assistance,” he said:
“The Guidelines described similar words [about “Repelling Limited and Small-Scale
Aggression without External Assistance” with the NDPO], but there are no relation in
substance between them.”
“So the theory of ‘the NDPO 1976’ was never substantially introduced to the Guide-
lines. We did not consult with the U.S. side about the concept.” 7

5 Seisaku Kenkyū Daigakuin Daigaku eds., Hōshuyama Noboru Ōraru Hisutorī [oral history of Noboru
Hōshuyama] I (Tokyo: Seisaku Kenkyū Daigakuin Daigaku, 2005), pp. 67-68.
6 Kindai Nihon Shiryō Kenkyū Kai eds., Shiota Akira Ōraru Hisutorī [oral history of Akira Shiota] (Tokyo:
Kindai Nihon Shiryō Kenkyū Kai, 2006), p. 118.
7 Author’s interview with person involved in the Secretariat of Joint Staff Council (November 8, 2012, Tokyo).