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Fumio Ota

【#428】Science Council of Japan Helping China While Refusing to Help SDF

Fumio Ota ／ 2017.03.23 (Thu)


March 21, 2017

　　　　　Media reports said the Science Council of Japan has drafted a statement maintaining a policy of banning military researches at universities and other institutes. In a Speaking Out column on March 21, I argued that Japan should conduct research and development of Directed-Energy Weapons (DEW) such as laser systems for ballistic missile defense. But, as known well, many Chinese scholars attend seminars of academic societies on laser at Japanese universities and their research results are clearly used for military purposes in China. Is it right for the Science Council of Japan to cooperate with the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) while refusing to cooperate with the Japanese Self-Defense Forces?

Technological development under military-civilian fusion
　　　　　Recently, a book titled “China’s Evolving Military Strategy” was published in the United States. Its 12th and final chapter titled “An Introduction to China’s Strategic Military-Civilian Fusion” explains how the military and civilian sectors bound together in their effort to develop science and technology under leaders ranging from Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping and Jiang Zemin to Xi Jinping. “China’s leading civilian scientists were directly supporting the military (and vice versa),” the chapter says on p. 400. It also explained that China has recently created the Military Civilian Fusion Leading Small Group and the Civil-Military Integration Research Center (pp. 411-412).

Many Chinese participate academic seminars
　　　　　I know that many Chinese scholars participate in academic seminars on laser technology at Japanese universities and other institutes. The global common knowledge is that around 90% of laser technologies are used for military purposes. Research results of Chinese scholars, whether their titles are university researchers or institute employees, are undoubtedly used by the PLA for military purposes. It is also a fact that experts on nuclear technology at Japan’s state universities cooperate with China under the pretext of Japan-China friendship.
　　　　　The plan by the Science Council of Japan to ban science and technology cooperation with the Defense Ministry as “military researches” while turning a blind eye to the above-mentioned facts means that the council positively cooperates with the Chinese PLA while refusing to cooperate with Japan’s SDF. Edo Period military strategist Soko Yamaga said one of the strategic secrets should be self-control, meaning that since ancient times, countries have collapsed due to domestic factors rather than external attacks, and allowing anti-Japan activities in Japan could dangerously affect its national security. Japan has been defeated without fighting.
　　　　　The Science Council of Japan is said to be compiling a final draft statement toward its general meeting in April. I would like the council to reconsider the ban on technological cooperation with the Defense Ministry and SDF.

Fumio Ota is a JINF Planning Committee Member and retired Vice Admiral of Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force.