The Japanese Military and the Indo-Pacific region

In this interview, Grant Newsham discusses the state of the Japanese military as well as current events in the Indo-Pacific theater. Grant has first-hand experience helping develop the Japan Self-Defense Force’s (JSDF) amphibious capabilities. In this interview, we cover the following:

An overview of the JSDF and why it has been underfunded and underappreciated for years. Why the Japanese needed to improve their amphibious capabilities and improve their joint operations.  Shifting attitudes in Japan toward the military How Grant and other American liaison officers worked to improve the JSDF  Differences in American and Japanese approaches to training with a specific focus on Exercises Dawn Blitz and Iron Fist from 2013 The current state of the JSDF and ability to work with U.S. armed forces nearly a decade later

We also talk current events including:

Analysis of China’s 20th Communist Party Congress How China’s zero COVID policy is designed to condition the population for hardship and to eliminate resistance to Xi Jinping North Korea’s continued belligerence  South Korea’s political situation Australia and U.S. relations and ability to deter China

Biography: Grant Newsham is a Senior Fellow with the Center for Security Policy. He is also a Research Fellow at the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies focusing on Asia-Pacific defense, political, and economic matters. Grant is a retired U.S. Marine Colonel and was the first U.S. Marine Liaison Officer to the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. He also served as reserve head of intelligence for Marine Forces Pacific, and was the U.S. Marine Attaché, US Embassy Tokyo on two occasions.

In March 2023, Grant is planning to publish a book called When China Attacks.

Check out Grant's work at the Center for Security Policy. Find Grant on Twitter: @NewshamGrant

HELP SPREAD THE WORD!

If you like the interview and want to hear others, subscribe in iTunes, Spotify, or Audible. Support the show with written reviews, share on social media, and through word of mouth. 

To request additional shows or guests, e-mail me: [email protected] 

Check out the website: www.professionalmilitaryeducation.com