The policy for national defense formulated on April 4, 1907, stated two points; to firstly expand the sovereign right as the national goal based on a national virtue which was the opening of Japan, and to promote national interests and people's welfare.
明治40年4月4日に初めて策定された国防方針においては、まず国家目標として開国進取の国是に則って国権の拡張を図り、国利民福の増進に勤める二点にと定められた。