The Japanese government has found a "weapon" to counter Chinese vessels at sea—unmanned boats!
According to a front-page report by Yomiuri Shimbun, the Japanese government has decided to begin developing unmanned ships for the Japan Coast Guard starting from the next fiscal year, aiming to strengthen surveillance and monitoring in waters surrounding Japan. These unmanned vessels will be combined with patrol ships and drones to respond to China's increasingly active maritime "expansion." In December, Japan will revise its "Maritime Security Capability Enhancement Guidelines" for the first time in four years, proposing measures including the use of unmanned ships to reinforce maritime security.
The plan includes incorporating related budget items into the preliminary budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year. The direction toward introducing such technology will also be reflected in three national security-related documents set for revision this year. Multiple sources from the Japanese government and ruling party have revealed this information.
Currently, the Japan Coast Guard operates five drones for aerial surveillance, but their endurance is limited. If unmanned ships are introduced, they could conduct extended surveillance and monitoring in distant offshore areas far from the mainland.
Starting from the next fiscal year, research and development will be conducted in collaboration with domestic shipbuilders and other entities, focusing on technologies for operating unmanned ships, using cameras and radar to monitor surrounding waters, and even equipping mechanisms to forcibly stop suspicious vessels.
Regarding unmanned ships, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is currently advancing international rule discussions on safe navigation, expected to take effect in January 2032. The Japanese government plans to begin model experiments using unmanned ships starting in FY2032.
The guidelines for enhancing maritime security capability were initially established in 2022 in response to China's unilateral maritime "expansion." Although they primarily focus on coastal defense around the Senkaku Islands (China: Diaoyu Islands), Chinese government vessels have continued to approach and enter these waters multiple times since then. On the 4th of this month, China's Coast Guard announced the establishment of routine law enforcement patrols by coast guard vessels in waters east of Taiwan’s main island. In light of these developments, the Japanese government plans to convene a cabinet meeting in December to revise the guidelines and further enhance its capabilities.
As the Japan Coast Guard expands its operations, it faces growing personnel shortages. Due to long working hours aboard ships and other factors, the rate of mid-term departures is rising. By the end of FY2024, the gap between the authorized staffing level (14,788 personnel) and actual numbers (shortage) reached 665 people—first exceeding 600.
The Japan Coast Guard hopes to deploy unmanned ships in areas where manned vessels are relatively scarce, thereby freeing up human-operated patrol ships for critical tasks such as responding to Chinese government vessels and conducting rescue operations, thus reducing the burden on staff.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1871094232714315/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.