It appears that the Ministry of Defense requested funding to establish a “Cyberspace Defense Unit” in its budget request for fiscal Heisei 25.
According to reports, “The Ministry of Defense and the Self-Defense Forces have revealed that they recognize cyberspace as a ‘domain’ alongside land, sea, air, and space. They also announced plans for a ‘Cyberspace Defense Unit’ comprising 100 personnel from the Ground, Maritime, and Air Self-Defense Forces, to be established in fiscal 2013.” [1] [2] It seems Japan has finally caught up with the understanding held overseas. This is very welcome news.
For a long time, Japan’s understanding of the Internet remained limited to viewing it as a “tool,” as reflected in terms such as “information and communications strategy.” Overseas, however, cyberspace had long been recognized as a new domain, and measures had been taken accordingly. I have discussed how significant the difference is between recognizing something as a tool and recognizing it as a domain through the idea of the “eighth continent,” including in a special lecture at the University of Tokyo [3], so please see those slides and related materials.
For now, this is welcome. I wonder whether they will participate in MNE 8 [4]….
[1] Keyman’s Net, “183rd Lap: Will the Ministry of Defense Activate a ‘Cyberspace Defense Unit’!?”
[4] Multi National Experiment phase 8. An initiative involving NATO countries, South Korea, and others, whose Phase 8 is scheduled to begin in 2012/12. In 2011-2012, Phase 7 was conducted, and within it, 16 countries jointly undertook efforts to ensure the security of cyberspace as a “domain” alongside land, sea, air, and space. The secretariat for cyberspace measures is in the United Kingdom.
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