In Niigata Prefecture, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced on Sunday that Japan will consider reorganizing the Ground, Maritime and Air Self‑Defense Forces to break down traditional barriers and improve coordination amid rising personnel shortages caused by a shrinking population, Xinhua reports. Koizumi said that one of the key issues for the forthcoming revision of Japan’s three core security documents, due in December, would be the full integration of the three branches.
Xinhua notes that the reforms aim to promote closer cooperation where the “traditional boundaries” among the units can be removed, with the goal of strengthening Japan’s overall defense capabilities.
Against this backdrop, the government’s continued expansion of defense capabilities has sparked widespread concern, and protests have erupted in various parts of the country. Demonstrators have called on the government to halt its military buildup and to avoid further escalating regional tensions, according to Xinhua.
Public broadcaster NHK reported that the move follows growing difficulties in maintaining sufficient personnel for the Self‑Defense Forces. Koizumi said the reforms would be pursued to address these shortages, aligning with the broader effort to modernize Japan’s security framework.
