Overview of Japan's Self-Defense Forces' Disaster Relief Operation Mechanism

Japan is a country with frequent natural disasters. Disaster relief is one of the five major tasks of the Japan Self-Defense Force. After the Great Hanshin Earthquake in 1995, the Japanese government established a relatively complete disaster relief operation mechanism for the Self-Defense Forces. After the 8.9-magnitude devastating earthquake of 2011.3.11, the Japanese Self-Defense Forces completed the dispatch of the disaster relief forces of sea, land, and air in four hours.

Relief is the main task of the Self-Defense Forces

As we all know, Japan is a country with frequent earthquakes, frequent volcanic activity and frequent typhoons. In addition to unfavorable geographical conditions, Japan has a narrow country, a developed economy, and a very dense population. Therefore, Japan is a country that has traditionally attached great importance to the prevention of natural disasters. This tradition is also reflected in the building of post-war standing military forces.
In May 1957, the Japanese government announced the "Basic Principles for National Defense" and for the first time clearly identified "defense", "policy", "marine guards", "prevention of air violations" and "disaster relief" as the top five tasks of the Self-Defense Forces. This is also the world’s first major task of classifying “disaster relief” as a national military force.
After the end of the Cold War, the disintegration of the former Soviet Union and the disappearance of major military threats began to reassess national security policies in Japan. During this period, Japan suddenly suffered two large-scale disasters. The first was the 7.2-magnitude Hanshin earthquake on January 17, 1995. The earthquake caused more than 6,000 casualties; the second was the sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway on March 20, 1995, resulting in 12 deaths and 5500 deaths. Many people were injured. In these two disasters, the Japanese public complained that the government lacked awareness of the crisis, and the media criticized the SDF for the sluggish rescue. After the Great Hanshin Earthquake, the Japanese Self-Defense Forces rescue force entered the disaster relief site seven hours later. In the Tokyo Metro Sarin gas attack case, the Self-Defense Forces rescued the subway poisoning people and caused the disaster to expand due to unfamiliar operations.
Affected by these two disasters, the Japanese people have higher expectations for the Self-Defense Forces to participate in disaster relief. In 1999, the Japanese Defense Agency (upgraded to the Ministry of Defense) polls, 87.2% of the people believe that the main purpose of the existence of the Self-Defense Forces for disaster relief, followed by 35.5% of the international contribution, 19.1% that the protection of national security. In 2003, Japan's “Defense White Paper” released data and data, as many as 71.8% of the people thought that disaster relief was the primary purpose, followed by 68.6% to ensure national security, and committed to international contribution of 35.3%.

Self-defense force strengthens disaster response capabilities

To this end, Japan made adjustments in its new version of the "Defense Outline" in 1996, focusing on strengthening disaster response capabilities. Including the establishment of emergency power output, the Land Self-Defense Force has designated a troop of approximately 2,700 troops to dispatch contingency forces for disaster relief. It has about 410 vehicles and about 30 helicopters, which can be dispatched within 2 hours of receiving the order. The Maritime Self-Defense Forces established an emergency dispatch mechanism, and all normal state warships berthed in the harbor can be dispatched within 4 hours. The Air Self-Defense Force deployed mobile health classes consisting of military doctors, nurses, and first-aiders in five regions across the country and was responsible for the care of severely wounded people during air transportation during large-scale disasters.
In the event of large-scale disasters, the land self-defense forces can concentrate up to 70,000 people to the disaster area; the Maritime Self-Defense Force can send 60 warships and 50 aircraft; the Air Self-Defense Force can dispatch 70 reconnaissance planes, ambulances, and transport planes.

The Self-Defense Forces mobilize disaster relief decision-making mechanisms

In addition to the setting up of hard relief forces, the Japanese government has also set up a relatively complete self-defense force to participate in disaster relief decision-making mechanisms.
1. Applying for the dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces Act No. 83 stipulates whether or not the Self-Defense Forces shall be sent to participate in disaster relief. The prefectural governors shall make judgments and submit applications. When the disaster occurs or is about to occur, the mayor or village may consider it necessary to take emergency measures. However, when he cannot contact the prefectural governor, he or she may also directly notify the defense governor or designated person of the disaster.
2. When dispatched in an emergency situation, the defense governor can dispatch disaster relief forces without waiting for local government applications.
3. Disaster Recovery In order to accurately understand the disaster situation, the Japan Self-Defense Force actively participates in disaster prevention training organized by local public organizations, and establishes the "National Disaster Protection Countermeasures and Coordination Officer" at the Local Cooperation Headquarters, responsible for liaising with local public organizations. Furthermore, under the application of local groups, the Self-Defense Force recommended retired self-defense officials with experience in disaster management such as disaster prevention to serve in the group. As of the end of April 2009, Japan had 167 retired self-defense officials in 43 prefectures and 97 cities and towns across the country. In this way, it served in disaster prevention related departments of local public organizations.
In addition, the Japanese cabinet meeting also made provision that when the Self-Defense Force received the 5th-level earthquake notification issued by the Meteorological Agency, it took the initiative to send planes to the disaster-stricken areas to collect information and convey the information to the prime minister's residence.
These two measures are actually the use of war strategies for disaster relief. The SDF has become the second source of disaster intelligence for the Japanese government. When the local government is affected by the disaster, the SDF's military reconnaissance capability will help the central government more quickly. Grasp the disaster to ensure that the life-saving golden 72 hours are not wasted.

Self-Defense Forces Preparedness for Peace-Relief

In addition to the above-mentioned disaster relief force setting plan, the Self-Defense Force’s disaster relief preparations also carried out extremely detailed preparations. These include:
1. Determine the disaster-relief forces in the area where the disaster has been set up. Settlement areas such as parks and sports fields near the disaster area are required as command points, accommodation, parking, and assembly of various necessary materials. In addition, due to the fact that vehicle activities may be limited during a disaster, it is necessary to set up a helipad within or near the disaster area to transport emergency wounded patients, materials, and fire. Therefore, for the smooth implementation of the helicopter, the Self-Defense Forces will make a clear distinction between the evacuation site and the helipad, and let local residents know the site.
2. The number of the building indicates that when the aircraft collects disaster information and transports personnel and materials, the Self-Defense Force will also mark the number of the important disaster-prevention facilities such as the county office, school, etc. to make it easy to confirm the building from the air.
3. Establishment of a liaison officer stand-by office The Self-Defense Forces set up an activity facility in the prefectural and county halls to coordinate with the headquarters. For example, a temporary communication station that performs a contact coordination service, a standby place of a linking officer, a parking lot, and the like.
4. Prepare various data materials. The Self-Defense Forces will record the positions of the evacuation center and the helicopter landing field in the disaster prevention maps that are common to all disaster prevention agencies. In addition, prepare equipment that allows the helicopter to extinguish fire in the air, and ensure that the reservoir is adequately supplied with water on weekdays.

Conclusion

Japan is a country with frequent natural disasters. It has accumulated rich experience in disaster relief. The Japanese Self-Defense Force is dedicated to disaster relief and dispatching and preparation work. A relatively mature operation and disposal mechanism has been formed. This mechanism is worthy of our reference. of.

The tsunami triggered by the 8.9-magnitude earthquake in 2011 has caused severe damage to the coastal areas of Miyagi. The Japanese government and the Self-Defense Forces are currently in a state of intense relief work. The concrete results remain to be seen. However, we have already seen that within four hours after the earthquake, the Japanese Ministry of Defense has dispatched all ships of the Maritime Self-Defense Forces to the sea near Miyagi Prefecture in an effort to grasp the earthquake disaster situation. The Air Self-Defense Force’s F-15 fighter jets from the Komatsu base in Ishikawa Prefecture and the Chitose Base in Hokkaido traveled to the disaster area to collect disasters. The Land SDF also dispatched helicopters with video transmission capabilities. The Japanese government’s improved disaster relief operation mechanism after the Great Hanshin Earthquake in 1995 is playing a role. (Huang Zhimao)