The Japanese government also claimed in its first ‘Defense White Paper’ published since the inauguration of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba that Dokdo is its own territory. This is the 21st year that the claim has appeared in the Japanese Defense White Paper.
The Japanese government stated in this year's Defense White Paper that while explaining the security environment in the Indo-Pacific region, "Japan's inherent territories, the Northern Territories (the Japanese term for the four Kuril Islands) and the territorial issue of Takeshima (竹島—the name Japan claims for Dokdo) remain unresolved."
Similar to last year, Japan noted in a map titled "The Security Environment Around Our Country" that there is a territorial issue surrounding Takeshima.
Additionally, in the map concerning 'border and surveillance in the sea and airspace around our country,' Japan highlighted its claim of territorial waters by marking the area around Dokdo with a blue solid line. The name 'Takeshima' was also listed on other maps.
The Defense White Paper included content on cooperation with like-minded countries, mentioning Australia, India, Europe, and Korea in that order.
The section related to security cooperation with Korea was about 2.5 pages, around one page shorter than last year, but the content was similar.
Japan described, "Korea is an important neighboring country that must cooperate as a partner in responding to various challenges in the international community." This expression was first included in the Defense White Paper last year.
The Defense White Paper analyzed that as security environments surrounding Korea and Japan become increasingly serious and complex, cooperation is becoming more important, especially in relation to North Korea's nuclear and missile issues, counter-terrorism measures, responses to large-scale natural disasters, and maritime security.
Regarding the trilateral cooperation of Korea, the U.S., and Japan, it emphasized that "seeking close cooperation is important in addressing various security challenges, including responses to North Korea."