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Japan Self-Defense Forces
Unified military forces of Japan / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF, Japanese: 自衛隊; Hepburn: Jieitai), also known as the Japanese Armed Forces, are the unified military forces of Japan. Established in 1954, the JSDF comprises the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. They are controlled by the Ministry of Defense with the Prime Minister as commander-in-chief.
Since the end of the Cold War, and particularly into the 21st century, increased tensions with North Korea,[9] China, and Russia[10] have reignited debate over the status of the JSDF and their relationship to Japanese society.[11] The JSDF have prioritized greater cooperation and partnership with Australia, India, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States, as well as acquiring new equipment and hardware.[12][13][14]