Utilization of AI urged for national security“New Cold War” intensified between China and USA

This article is written by Mr. Izumi Harada , Executive Fellow, Institute for International Socio-Economic Studies（NEC Group）

In the progress of evolution of Internet of Things (IoT) the cyber attack has changed considerably not only the way how national security should be organized in the cyber space but also the way how it should be reviewed in the real space and world.

On top of that in the progress of evolution of Artificial Intelligence (AI), specially Deep Learning (Image Recognition and so on) the military revolution of AI has changed the war from Information Warfare to Intelligentized Warfare, and USA, top runner, is now being pursued closely by China and Russia.

Russia actually made tactical cyber attack, namely, electromagnetic wave attack, in the event of Crimea annexation and NATO were completely defeated by the attack.

As known widely the change of military balance influences directly international balance of power. It is easily expected that the superiority or inferiority in the development of AI may influence decisively the international power balance.

USA and China is most advanced in the global development of AI, and, further to the shared power balance of USA and China in the cyber world, both nations are now sharing the global power also in AI world.

“Vital role” of Cyber field
The current situation mentioned above is influencing also the global economy.

The trade war between USA and China is now expanding to the argument and dispute on how to acquire the data in the cyber space, the protection of intellectual property rights of AI development and its national subsidies, Huawei issue and next generation communication technology of 5G.

Observing these issues some critics are commenting “USA and China are now entering new Cold War”.

The Cold War between USA and the Soviet Union after the Second World War is considered as confrontation of ideology (Capitalism and Socialism) and of economy, where no easy compromise could be expected.

It is however to be noted that the current confrontation between USA and China is a little different and more complicated in the field of economy as two big nations are in the same global market and are depending closely with each other. The current confrontation is now not simply in the issue of ideology.

On top of this complication, the Globalism and Free World Trade have enlarged the difference in economy among rich and poor countries, and, US Trump Administration was born and organized under the situation where domestic economic gap is widened and immigration problem is argued fiercely.

In EU the similar movement is also observed. In the situation where EU domestic economic gap is widened and immigration problem is being the issue of utmost importance nationalist political parties are advancing their power, and UK is now exiting from EU.

Question is how Japan can cope with and manage these situations.

In the field of national security the outline of national defense program was adopted by the Cabinet in last December. It was specified that Japan would endeavor to cope with the situation where many countries are developing weapons with latest advanced technology which may possibly change the global game. They are also developing autonomous weapons uploaded with AI, and, in order to cope with this global change it was also specified there in the program that multidimensional integrated defense force should be the basic concept by enlarging the area of consolidated operation of Self Defense Forces of Ground, Maritime and Air to new area of space, cyber and electromagnetic waves.

The program also specifically mentioned that it is vital to keep the advanced position in the areas of space and cyber in the modern war and substantial damages will be caused to the safety of Japan and its people if such position is threatened. Japan endeavor, therefore, to enhance the capabilities to prevent the malicious utilization of space and cyber space by enemy countries in order to protect Japan from the threats of space satellite and information communication system.

The program and its strategies are judged and evaluated very adequate and well in line with the global trend.

For the introduction of principles of global competition 
Moreover the program could cover the needs of enhancement of Japan’s own research and development, strengthening of information intelligence capabilities, enhancing of information gathering and analysis capabilities, strengthening of prediction and predictive ability, official announcement of early warning information. Finally overall deployment and utilization of AI technologies is urged for these tasks..

In order to cope with the “game change” of national security the adequate understanding and appreciation of people is indispensable. It is required that proper definition of self-defense is made domestically against cyber attack equivalent to the military attack and nation-wide debate on the issue, including the appropriate level of counter-attack as a result is also required. Talent and capabilities of self-defense power and its measures should also be legalized and prepared properly.

In any case USA and China is most essential nations for Japan, and, it is essential for the sake of global society that the stable relationship is maintained between Japan and these two nations.

It is hoped that Japan make every efforts in cooperation with EU to keep and maintain freedom, democracy, the rule of law, fundamental human rights, specially respect of individual privacy for the introduction of principles of global competition, and, it is required that Japan also contribute to the realization of free and open international community with proper and fair distribution of domestic wealth and Japan contribute as global leader to establish the system which AI is not maliciously employed for surveillance society.

I believe that in order for Japan to fulfil these duties it is essential to develop steadily skills and capabilities in the area of national security and economy, and, these steady efforts will lead to the enhancement of Japan’s international influence.

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Izumi Harada
*Chairman,Crisis & Risk Management Society of Japan
*Executive Fellow, Institute for International Socio-Economic Studies

*Graduate School of Keio University
*Currently in service for Institute for International Socio-Economic Studies, moved from NEC Research Institute and the Association for the Promotion of International Trade, Japan
*62 years of age, born in Tokyo