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"GFJ Commentary"
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"GFJ Commentary" presents views of members and friends of GFJ on the relations of Japan with the rest of the world and other related international affairs. The view expressed herein is the author's own and should not be attributed to GFJ.
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"Japan-ASEAN Dialogue" Should Discuss Not Only "Sea" But "Space"
By MATSUI Akira
former Ambassador of Japan to Kazakhstan
On March 14, I was invited to attend the 9th "Japan-ASEAN Dialogue: the Future of ASEAN Integration and Japan's Role" under the co-sponsorship of the Global Forum of Japan and the ASEAN-ISIS. Here, I would like to elaborate my comments, which I could have not fully develop at the "Dialogue" due to the time constraints.
During the discussion at Session II "East Asia Security and Japan-ASEAN Cooperation," reference was made to such issues as freedom of navigation at sea, information sharing/warning system development cooperation of disasters including Tsunamis, marine rescue cooperation, illegal fishing, marine pollution, piracy, crime control cooperation including trans-border arms smuggling and drug trafficking, coast guard cooperation, and peaceful settlement of disputes over sea boundaries, etc. I wondered if such issues as research and information exchange on migrant fish including eels, research and study cooperation on marine resources could be added to the agenda. As a whole, the discussions were seemed to be focused solely on upholding freedom of navigation and maritime security in the region.
However, it is obvious that China is the implicit subject of the "Dialogue" who is expected to become a "responsible stakeholder" in the international community. China is not only strengthening her naval power, but at the same time accelerating development of space satellites and missiles. Besides, North Korea has declared that she will launch a rocket (seen in effect as a military missile) in mid-April, and warned that the first stage of the rocket will fall into somewhere off South Korea, the body will fly over the Sakishima Islands in Okinawa, and the second stage will fall into somewhere off the Philippines. There is a possibility that she would resort to a similar action in the future.
Given the expansion of China in terms of economy, politics and military power, as well as potential military adventurism of North Korea, now taking part only in ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) among a host of international frameworks in the region, I would like to propose to step forward to study the possibility of "space" security. To be more specific, this "Japan-ASEAN Dialogue" should also discuss such issues as safety of aircraft navigation (both civilian and military), airspace incursion by rockets and missiles, etc., promotion of cooperation and information exchange on cyber attacks and terrorism, etc., research and information exchange on the seasonal avian migrations and epidemics carried by them, etc. As for launch of weather-monitoring satellites and GPS (Global Positioning System) satellites, I expect that Japan can contribute more than China or South Korea to cooperation with/among ASEAN member states.
Meanwhile, I was impressed by the presence of the Chinese Embassy staff in the discussions. I would like to suggest inviting such staff from the Embassies of South Korea, India, Australia, Taiwan, as well.
(This is the English translation of an article which originally appeared on the BBS "Giron-Hyakushutsu" of GFJ on 20 March, 2012, and was posted on "GFJ Commentary" on 27 April, 2012.)
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For more views and opinions in the backnumber of "GFJ Commentary," the latest of which are as follows, please refer to:
http://www.gfj.jp/eng/commentary/backnumber.html
No.41 Is the US Really Returning to East Asia?
by SAKAI Nobuhiko, Director of Japan Institute of Nationalism Studies and former Professor of the University of Tokyo
(10 February 2012)
No.40 Is It True That Nobody Could Predict the Fall of the Soviet Union?
by YAMAMOTO Yuichi, former Lecturer of university
(16 December 2011)
No.39 Government and People Together Must Address the Resolution of the Futenma Issue
by YUSHITA Hiroyuki, former Ambassador to the Philippines
(31 October 2011)
No.38 The Death of Osama bin-Laden
by Bruce MAZLISH, Professor Emeritus of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
(5 August 2011)
No.37 Is Osama Bin Laden a Criminal or a Hero?
by ITO Masanori, Company Worker and Individual Member of the Japan Forum on International Relations
(26 June 2011)
No.36 Now is the Time for the Third Nation Building
by YUSHITA Hiroyuki, former Ambassador to the Philippines
(28 April 2011)
"GFJ Updates"
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"GFJ Updates" introduces to you the latest events, announcements and/or publications of GFJ.
Event
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The "9th Japan-ASEAN Dialogue : The Future of ASEAN Integration and Japan's Role --Japan-ASEAN Partnership after New Joint Declaration" Held
The Global Forum of Japan (GFJ), under the co-sponsorship with ASEAN Institutes of Strategic and International Studies (ASEAN-ISIS), organized the "9th Japan-ASEAN Dialogue" on the theme of "The Future of ASEAN Integration and Japan's Role --Japan-ASEAN Partnership after New Joint Declaration" in Tokyo on March 14, 2012. On the following day of the Dialogue, "Policy Recommendations Drafting Meeting," which was closed to the public, was held to work on the Policy Recommendations based on the achievements of the discussions in the "Dialogue." GFJ and each of the ASEAN-ISIS member institutes later officially submitted the Policy Recommendations to the respective governments of Japan and ASEAN.
For more please refer to :
Outlines of Discussions (http://www.gfj.jp/eng/dialogue/43/outlines.pdf)
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