As geopolitical tensions continue to escalate around the globe, from the ongoing Russia–Ukraine conflict to hostilities in the Middle East, Japan is also grappling with an increased risk of conflict in the Asia-Pacific region. North Korea’s nuclear ambitions, along with China’s military activities in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, have prompted Japan to strengthen its emergency preparedness measures.
A key part of this strategy is a new focus by the Japanese Ministry of Defense on ensuring a sufficient supply of blood plasma for the country’s Self-Defense Forces, in the event of sudden warfare.
On Oct. 6, the Ministry of Defense convened the inaugural meeting of a committee comprised of relevant experts and officials. The aim was to discuss crucial topics such as blood product procurement, long-term storage solutions, and transfusion methodologies suitable for battlefield conditions.
The committee, consisting of 14 attendees—including experts and various Ministry of Defense officials—reviewed five key documents. One such document provided an overview of the Self-Defense Forces’ medical capabilities. The committee members subsequently offered insights on pivotal issues such as transfusion requirements for military personnel, conditions for emergency low-titer O-type transfusions, and the safety and feasibility of utilizing American-preserved platelet-rich plasma products in Japan.
Self-Defense Force Members to Contribute to Plasma Reserves
Simultaneously, the Ministry of Defense publicized six related documents outlining the crucial role of blood transfusions in warfare. Among these, “Basic Considerations for the Use of Blood Products by the Self-Defense Forces” emphasized the need for timely and strategically located blood supplies. The goal is to allow both the Ministry and the Self-Defense Forces to maintain an autonomous blood supply chain.The document also highlighted the imperative of swift access to blood supplies during a conflict, given the potential for numerous casualties. It recommended utilizing stored blood products and, if those supplies prove insufficient, resorting to intra-military blood donations as a last-resort measure. It also offered strategies for resolving related challenges.
To further these goals, the Ministry has initiated experimental production of blood plasma products at the Self-Defense Forces Central Hospital in Tokyo. Primarily sourced from the 250,000-strong Japan Self-Defense Forces, the blood will have a storage lifespan of ten years. Additionally, the Ministry has plans to acquire 40 large ambulances—capable of transporting eight injured personnel simultaneously—and to develop a mobile battlefield surgical system. Cold storage facilities are also slated for construction at bases throughout the southwestern archipelago in the coming years.
Last year, the Japanese government allocated approximately $600,000 (90 million yen) for fiscal year 2023 to cover blood storage and related costs. As a supplementary measure, plasma will continue to be purchased from the Japanese Red Cross Society.
By focusing on critical medical logistics such as blood plasma supply, Japan is fortifying its emergency preparedness capabilities. The move is indicative of the increasing complexities of modern warfare and underlines its role in current geopolitical tensions.
Wargaming an Invasion of Taiwan
Notably, one of the released documents also included a simulation, sourced from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), an American think tank, titled “Wargaming a Chinese Invasion of Taiwan.”The simulation intriguingly placed Japan among the simulated warring nations, underlining the urgency of the current preparatory measures. While not an official projection by the Ministry, the inclusion of the tabletop wargame simulation in the meeting’s documents was significant.
In the event of a Taiwan invasion, the simulation emphasized the likelihood of Japan being attacked by China. It stressed that Japan would be a key element in an allied victory.
Sobering Statistics from American Wars
In the arena of war medicine, blood loss from injuries continues to stand out as the predominant cause of death, as outlined in the Japanese Ministry of Defense’s recently released “National Defense Strategy Health Measures Outline—Improving Medical Capacity for War Injuries.”The Ministry cited sobering U.S. statistics from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, highlighting the urgency of effective blood transfusion strategies.
Out of 4,596 soldiers injured during Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), 4,016 (87 percent) succumbed to their injuries before reaching medical facilities.
Russia’s Blood Supply Management Signaled Ukraine Invasion
The Ministry also looked at blood transfusion practices evident in the Russia–Ukraine conflict to underline the strategic importance of managing blood supplies in wartime. In late January 2022, Russia escalated troop movements along the Ukrainian border, simultaneously transporting medical supplies, including blood products. This action caught the attention of the United States, leading to assessments that Russia had the capacity to initiate hostilities against Ukraine.U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin later noted that along with an increase in fighter jet activity, the movement and storage of blood plasma were noteworthy indicators casting doubt on Russia’s claims of troop withdrawal.
Civilian Contributions to Japan’s Blood Supply
Currently, the Japanese Red Cross Society oversees the collection, management, and distribution of blood supplies in Japan. If the Self-Defense Forces were to establish an independent blood management system, they would partially disengage from the Red Cross, although they would continue to make purchases for the foreseeable future.Blood donation drives in Japan, often featuring Red Cross-emblazoned vehicles, are a common sight on streets and university campuses. Civil organizations, including the Lions Club, actively assist the Red Cross in these efforts.
In an interview with The Epoch Times on Oct. 8, a senior executive with the Lions Club in Osaka discussed its longstanding collaboration with the Red Cross in blood donor recruitment.
Across Japan, Lions Club organizations frequently organize blood donation drives in high-traffic areas like shopping districts and train stations. On average, around 100 people donate blood daily, with women outnumbering men. Donors typically contribute between 200cc and 400cc of blood. Those aged 65 and older are limited to 200cc, and individuals over 70 are generally discouraged from donating. All collected blood is subsequently transferred to the Japanese Red Cross Society.
By emphasizing the critical importance of effective blood supply management and drawing lessons from international conflicts, Japan is intensifying its efforts to strengthen both military and civilian systems for blood collection and transfusion. This multipronged approach demonstrates its commitment to fortifying emergency medical preparedness in the face of increasing geopolitical tensions.
