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ITO Kenichi
President, JFIR
"JFIR Commentary"
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"JFIR Commentary" presents views of members of JFIR on Japan's foreign policy and other related international affairs. The view expressed herein is the author's own and should not be attributed to JFIR.
The articles posted to "JFIR Commmentary" in the last 2 months are as follows.
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Develop a Multilateral Framework for Maintenance of the Maritime Security in the South China Sea
By TAKAMINE Koushu
Research Fellow, Okazaki Institute
On July 9, a joint combined training by the Maritime Self-Defense Force, the US Navy and the Royal Australian Navy was practiced in the offshore of Brunei in the South China Sea. Launched in 2007 and operated four times since, the Japan-US-Australia joint combined training is for the first time conducted in the South China Sea. Needless to say, the objective of this joint combined training is to warn against China, who persistently claims her sovereignty in the South China Sea and strengthens her pressure to move into the area. A significant progress has been identified in security cooperation by Japan, the US and Australia in recent years.
For instance, the common strategic objectives in the joint statement, which was announced in the Japan-US Security Consultative Committee (2 plus 2) held in June, mention the strengthening of defense cooperation with Australia. Now that Australia is definitely a major player in the Asia-Pacific Region, an "alliance" of Japan-US-Australia is gaining a position as an international public property of that region. In addition, the common strategic objectives stipulate protection of the freedom of navigation as well as maintenance of the maritime security. The joint combined training has promptly put those objectives into practice.
Indeed, the Japan-US-Australia joint combined training of this time is meaningful. Nevertheless, a multilateral framework must be established in order to sustain the freedom of navigation and the maritime security in the South China Sea, based on the Japan-US-Australia security cooperation. More specifically, it is essential to create a system which involves the Southeast Asian countries facing the South China Sea. While the US appears to aim at organization of such a structure by strengthening ASEAN, China puts all her efforts into the disintegration of ASEAN. Though strengthened security cooperation by ASEAN member countries would be acceptable, the framework consisting of the coastal countries plus Japan, the US and Australia, who share mutual interests, would better function than the framework adhering to ASEAN.
In order to enhance the maritime security in the South China Sea, the coastal countries as well as Japan, the US and Australia should not only structure a framework and a hub for information gathering and sharing, but also help the coastal countries consolidate their abilities in guard and defense in the sea. Since it is a vital interest for Japan to secure the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and defend the sea lanes, Japan should take the initiative in building such a framework.
However, there are such obstructions as the Three Principles on Arms Exports and the constitutional interpretation which forbids the exercise of the right of collective self-defense. A multilateral military cooperation for the purpose of maintaining the maritime security in the South China Sea is equivalent to the exercise of the right of collective self-defense. The Three Principles on Arms Exports prevent Japan from smoothly assisting the coastal countries in enhancing their guard and defense abilities, even though Japan's first-class patrol ability is of great value to the coastal countries.
Japan has so far provided support through ODA in the name of anti-piracy, virtually bypassing the Three Principles on Arms Exports. This is not an ineffective measure. However, if we mitigate the Three Principles on Arms Exports in order to make a contribution squarely, things will go on smoothly and we can deliver a strong message on our commitment to the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. We should clear the longstanding problems of the Three Principles on Arms Exports and the right of collective self-defense, which have distorted Japan's security policies, and at all costs take the initiative in developing a multilateral framework to maintain the maritime security in the South China Sea. Only in so doing, development of the Japan-US-Australia security cooperation as observed in this joint combined training will dramatically raise its value.
(This is an English translation of an article written by Mr. TAKAMINE Koushu, Research Fellow of Okazaki Institute, which originally appeared on the BBS "Hyakka Seihou" of JFIR on July 9, 2011.)
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For more views and opinions in the backnumber of "JFIR Commentary," the latest of which are as follows, please refer to:
http://www.jfir.or.jp/e/commentary/backnumber.htm
No.70 "Prime Minister and Top Leaders Should Speak Up"
by HIRABAYASHI Hiroshi, Vice-President, JFIR / former Ambassador to India and France
(30 May, 2011)
No.69 "Economic policy should be rearranged around GDP per capita instead of GDP"
by KAWATO Akio, President, Japan-World Trends
(17 March, 2011)
No.68 "Synopsis of 'We Hear the Sound of Collapsing Japan'"
by SHIMADA Haruo, President, Chiba University of Commerce
(22 February, 2011)
No.67 "Unlucky Japanese: Their Recent Choice of Prime Ministers"
by SHIMADA Haruo, President, Chiba University of Commerce
(21 February, 2011)
No.66 "Japanese Perspective on the Rise of China and India (2)"
by HIRABAYASHI Hiroshi, Vice-President, JFIR / President, the Japan-India Association
(11 February, 2011)
No.65 "Japanese Perspective on the Rise of China and India (1)"
by HIRABAYASHI Hiroshi, Vice-President, JFIR / President, the Japan-India Association
(10 February, 2011)
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"JFIR Updates"
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"JFIR Updates" introduces to you latest events, announcements and/or publications of JFIR.
Event
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The 1st Meeting of the Policy Council of JFIR on "Japan and the World in the post-3.11 Era" Held
The 1st Meeting of the Policy Council of JFIR on "Japan and the World in the post-3.11 Era" was held on June 9 under the chairmanship of President ITO Kenichi and was attended by 22 members of the Policy Council. Prof. SHIMADA Haruo, who was appointed Head of the Task Force of the Policy Council on the topic of "Japan and the World in the post-3.11 Era," introduced a "Concept Paper" which he drafted for the Council and stated as follows...
For more information, please refer to:
http://www.jfir.or.jp/e/pr/outline/36_1.htm
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