Controversial Japanese Defense White Paper proposes vigorous development of quantum technology

On July 22, the Japanese government released the 2022 Annual Defense White Paper [1], which sparked widespread controversy. In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said [2], "The new version of Japan's Defense White Paper accuses of discrediting China's defense policy, normal military development and legitimate maritime activities, exaggerating the so-called 'China threat' and interfering in China's internal affairs on the Taiwan issue. China expresses its strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition to this, and has made solemn representations to the Japanese side."

While we condemn Japan, we should also be wary of the importance the Japanese government attaches to military technology in this White Paper, which even mentions quantum technology 36 times.

Cover of the Japanese government's "Defense White Paper" for 2022

01Quantum Technology in the White Paper

The White Paper states that quantum technology is positioned as an important technology that will revolutionize society through the application of "quantum mechanics," which is different from the physical laws we perceive in our everyday environment.

In December 2019, the Defense Science and Technology Board, an advisory body to the U.S. Department of Defense, listed quantum technologies with potential military uses as quantum communications (such as quantum cryptography), quantum sensors and quantum computers.

In the case of quantum communication, many countries are working on quantum cryptographic communication, which is considered to be cryptographic communication that cannot be deciphered by third parties. Today, China has built the world's largest quantum communication network infrastructure, covering about 3,000 km between Beijing and Shanghai, and in August 2016 launched the world's first satellite for experimental quantum-encrypted communication, the Mozi, which was used in January 2018 to successfully carry out a long-distance, quantum-encrypted communication between China and Austria. In January 2018, it was used to successfully conduct long-distance, quantum-encrypted communications between China and Austria.

As for quantum sensing, in March 2020, the then U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense said that quantum sensors hold promise as improved navigation information and are expected to be realized in the next few years; at the same time, it was noted that the application of quantum technology in defense should not be optimistic. In addition to this, it has been noted that quantum radar has the potential to disable the stealth of stealth aircraft by exploiting their quantum properties. Quantum computers are said to be able to calculate problems in a short time with ultra-low power consumption that current supercomputers require a lot of time, and their applications in areas such as cryptanalysis have great potential.

The Chinese government has been working hard to develop quantum computing: China has positioned quantum computing as a major science and technology project and has established the National Laboratory for Quantum Information Science. Today, China has invested about RMB 7 billion in the development of the National Laboratory for Quantum Information Science and Technology, as well as other related technologies. The Chinese government is also promoting private capital participation in the defense industry (civil participation in the military). In particular, it is promoting the application of artificial intelligence, quantum information, big data, cloud computing and other highly versatile and advanced technologies to the military.

The United States, China and Russia are developing supersonic weapons, which will be more difficult to detect and intercept. Countries will develop drones equipped with artificial intelligence (AI), as well as in the areas of quantum technology, space, networks, and electromagnetic waves. As a result, Japan's National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) division will further develop technological innovations in areas such as quantum computing and quantum cryptography in an effort to achieve early commercialization of quantum intelligence.

The main technical exchanges with the National Research and Development Organization (NICT). Among other things, NICT will focus on the development of quantum communication technologies.

Research projects (quantum-related) approved by Japan's "Security Technology Research Promotion Program" in 2021. These include "Research on Remote Quantum Sensing under the Sea and Underground" and "Research on Scattered Ray Image Measurement Technology for X-ray Spectral Analysis Using Photon Counting".

In accordance with the Basic Policy on Economic and Financial Management and Reform (Cabinet Decision of June 18, 2021), the government has also launched the Development Plan for Key Technologies for Economic Security. The plan will be worth 500 billion yen as new frameworks and initiatives are developed to strengthen economic security. The plan targets research and development, including artificial intelligence, quantum and other advanced technologies, with the Cabinet Secretariat, the Cabinet Office and other relevant ministries and agencies implementing R&D projects to realize national needs and individual research, the results of which will be used not only for civilian purposes but also linked to public applications and security applications.

Reference link：

[1]https://www.mod.go.jp/j/publication/wp/wp2022/pdf/wp2022_JP_Full_01.pdf

[2]https://www.mfa.gov.cn/web/fyrbt_673021/202207/t20220722_10726447.shtml