JAPAN DEFENSE FOCUS. No. Apr SPECIAL FEATURE Dispatch of SDF Personnel to South Sudan

Transcription

1 The Latest News on the Ministry of Defense an Self-Defense Forces No. 51 Apr JAPAN DEFENSE FOCUS SPECIAL FEATURE Dispatch of SDF Personnel to South Suan TOPICS Delivery an Commission Ceremony of Suzutsuki an Fuyuzuki 5th Japan ASEAN Defense Vice-Ministerial Meeting Ministry of Defense Symposium Defense of Japan ~New National Defense Program Guieline~ Grauation Ceremony of the National Defense Acaemy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sween hols talks with Minister of Defense JAPAN CANADA 2+2 DIALOGUE Aministrative Vice-Minister of Defense Masanori Nishi visite the Unite Kingom JAPAN LITHUANIA DEFENSE MINISTERIAL MEETING USMC/GSDF BILATERAL EXERCISE : EXERCISE FOREST LIGHT Mount FUJI Cover Photograph : Dispatch of SDF Personnel to South Suan MINISTRY OF DEFENSE

2 AActivities CTIVITIES Activities 5th Japan ASEAN Defense Vice-Ministerial Meeting The MOD hel the 5th Japan ASEAN Defense Vice-Ministerial Meeting in Okinawa on February 18th, Mr. Masanori Nishi, Aministrative Vice-Minister of Defense, chaire the meeting. Vice-Ministerial level an other officials from Brunei, Camboia, Inonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailan, Vietnam an ASEAN Secretariat participate in the meeting. During the meeting, they exchange frank an constructive opinions uner the theme of Future Direction of Capacity Builing Efforts an Possible Equipment-technology Cooperation among Japan an ASEAN Member States to Respon to Non-traitional Security Issues. Outline of iscussion on Future Direction of Capacity Builing Efforts Participants pointe out that there were capacity gaps among countries in the region in the fiel of Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief an Maritime Security, which are share issues in the region an that those gaps shoul be aresse in the future through personnel evelopment, joint exercises, etc. Participants note that activities in the Expert Working Groups (EWGs) uner the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) were quite useful to share expertise an experiences in the fiel of non-traitional security an that it woul be important to promote practical cooperation further among concerne nations through activities in the EWGs. Outline of iscussion on Possible Equipment-technology Cooperation among Japan an ASEAN Member States to Respon to Non-traitional Security Issues Participants stresse importance of capabilities such as Early Warning/Detection, Information Sharing/Communication, Transportation, etc. an expresse their expectations towar equipment-technology cooperation among Japan an ASEAN member states in these areas. All agree to explore irection of cooperation in future. Some pointe out that sharing expertise through joint exercises an equipment exhibitions, exchanges of views at expert talks, etc. woul be critical towar cooperation in the area of equipment an technology. The Ministry of Defense Symposium was hel on February 26th by the Ministry of Defense. While welcoming Toshio Shimaa, NHK news commentary chief eitor as a moerator, panel iscussion took place by four invite panelists after an opening speech by Itsunori Onoera, Minister of Defense, an keynote aress by Hieshi Tokuchi, Director General of Bureau of Defense Policy. Lively iscussion took place over two hours incluing the opinions an challenges of the new National Defense Program Guieline, efense posture of our country, an Japan s role to secure the peace of the worl. 2 On March 22n, a grauation ceremony was hel at the National Defense Acaemy in Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture. The National Defense Acaemy is the only acaemic institution of higher learning in Japan that eucates an trains caets who will be officers of the Groun, Maritime, an Air Self-Defense Forces. The grauation ceremony is traitionally hel with the attenance of the Defense Minister an the Prime Minister, who is the Commaner-in-Chief of the SDF. The Prime Minister irectly aresses the grauates regaring the expecte roles of SDF personnel, as they in the future will become the core members of the SDF. Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sween hols talks with Minister of Defense On February 26th, Defense Minister Onoera hel a conference with H.E. Mr. Carl Bilt, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Kingom of Sween who was on a working visit to Japan. In the beginning of the meeting, Mr. Onoera expresse his welcome to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sween, an remarke on the security environment of East Asia region. A memoranum on efense cooperation was signe in late December last year, which inicates that bilateral relations between Japan an Sween are going very well, an Foreign Minister Bilt showe his hope regaring further efense cooperation between the two countries. The ministers also exchange views on the situation in East Asia, incluing topics on China an North Korea. 3

3 Meeting with Foreign Leaers Topics JAPAN CANADA 2+2 DIALOGUE The secon roun of Subcabinet 2+2 Dialogue between Japan an Canaa took place in Ottawa, Canaa on the 3r of March, The Japanese representatives were Mr. Masanori Nishi, Aministrative Vice-Minister of Defense, an Mr. Shinsuke Sugiyama, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs. Mr. Richar Faen, Deputy Minister of National Defence an Mr. Daniel Jean, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs attene on behalf of Canaa. The Japan Canaa 2+2 ialogues were establishe base on the Canaa Japan Joint Declaration on Political, Peace an Security Cooperation signe by Prime Ministers of Japan an Canaa at the Japan Canaa Summit Meeting hel on the sie of the November 2010 APEC in Yokohama. The first Japan Canaa 2+2 Dialogue was hel in August, Both sies share views on the importance for promoting the cooperation between the SDF an Canaian Arme Forces in orer to eepen the national security ties between the two countries, an also share on intention to continue iscussing possibilities of future bilateral cooperation. They also exchange views on various regional security issues, incluing East Asia, Ukraine, the Mile East an Northern Africa, an both sies recognize the regional an international security environment an regional security frameworks. They reaffirme that both sies continue an eepen the iscussion on the future Canaa Japan bilateral cooperation, in areas such as Peace Keeping Operations which has long been a cooperation area of Japan an Canaa, an isaster relief responing to large scale isasters. Aministrative Vice-Minister of Defense Masanori Nishi visite the Unite Kingom Aministrative Vice-Minister of Defense Masanori Nishi visite the Unite Kingom through February 26th an March 2n. Mr. Nishi ha a iscussion with the hea of IISS (International Institute for Strategic Stuies) an RUSI 4 (Royal Unite Services Institute). He also attene the International Conference hoste by the Ditchley Founation an exchange views regaring security of Asia Pacific region with scholars an government officials from the worl. Delivery an Commission Ceremony of Suzutsuki an Fuyuzuki On March 12th, a ceremony for elivery an presentation of the SDF colors of estroyer Suzutsuki was hel at Mitsubishi Heavy Inustries Nagasaki Shipyar, attene by Parliamentary ViceMinister of Defense Kihara. On 13th, the following ay, the MOD/SDF accepte elivery of estroyer Fuyuzuki an SDF colors was presente in a ceremony at Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuiling Tamano Works, attene by Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Defense Wakamiya. Both ceremonies were attene by MSDF Chief of Staff Katsutoshi Kawano an Director General of the Equipment Procurement an Construction Office Akira Kamata, etc. Specifications Displacement stanar Approx tons Length 151m Beam 18.3m JAPAN LITHUANIA DEFENSE MINISTERIAL MEETING Depth 10.9m Engines 4 gas-turbine engines (2 shafts) Defense Minister Onoera met with the Honorable Olekas, Lithuanian Minister of National Defense, on February 25th uring the Minister s visit to Japan. They iscusse the efense policies of their respective countries as well as other efense-relate topics uring the exchange. Mr. Onoera welcome the Lithuanian Minister on his first visit to Japan, explaining the Japanese policy of Proactive Contribution to Peace base on the principle of international cooperation. He focuse on Japan s various international activities to ate, incluing SDF participation in the UN mission to South Suan, anti-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia an Gulf of Aen, an last year s Philippine Typhoon Disaster Relief activities. Minister Olekas spoke about Lithuania s entrance into the NATO an EU ten years prior an current efforts to improve his nation s security environment. Mr. Olekas expresse his esire for both countries to share experiences an learn from each other. From a efense exchange perspective, Minister Olekas focuse on Japan, stressing the extreme importance of Spee Approx. 30 knots international cooperation with regars to global hot topics such as cyber an energy security. Mr. Onoera state Japan s current focus on cyber security operations while emphasizing the importance of information sharing among countries when aressing issues such as cyber-attacks. USMC/GSDF BILATERAL EXERCISE: EXERCISE FOREST LIGHT Exercise Forest Light, a bilateral exercise between the Unite States Marine Corps an GSDF, was conucte on February 25th through March 8th at locations incluing Soumagahara Exercise Area in Gunma Prefecture an Sekiyama Exercise Area in Niigata Prefecture. The aim of the exercise was for GSDF an USMC to rill, through actual action, proceures on coorination for bilateral operations while each executes respective commans, thus improve their interoperability. The training also focuse on executing the mission within the winter elements (movement in eep snow, temporary wilerness sheltering, attack techniques, etc.) as well as bilateral air assault training which took place at Soumagahara via USMC CH-53 Helicopter. 5

4 SPECIAL SpecialFEATURE Feature Special Feature Dispatch of SDF Personnel to South Suan Q1. What is South Suan like? zations so as to ensure effective activities that can contribute to the state builing of South Suan. A contingent of the coorination section is set up in the neighboring Ugana for logistics support coorination. Until the eployment of the 5th engineer unit (from May to December 2013) there were two units on-site, the engineer unit an the coorination center. After a year an a half of their eployment, the operation proceure has been establishe. Then the coorination center unit was integrate into the engineer unit as an coorination section, since the information unification, enhance coorination between operations an logistics sie, an smooth communication in the case of emergency became more crucial ue to the expansion of activity areas. Q5. Specifically, what activities are the SDF engineer unit oing there? [Reference] The CPA is the peace agreement that ene the civil war laste over 20 years between the Northern an Southern parts of Suan, which ha generate over four million internally isplace people. Q2. What is the backgroun of ispatching the SDF to South Suan? After receiving requests concerning cooperation to UNMISS from the UN, the three on-site fiel surveys were conucte from September to October for the consieration of ispatching staff officers an an engineer unit. After examining safety of ispatche personnel an availability of conucting effective activities, a ecision was mae to ispatch three staff officers an an engineer unit. A5. The engineer unit starte their first engineer activity such as rainage evelopment in the UN facilities on March 1st, Subsequently, they starte roa improvement in Juba as one of their first engineer activities outsie the UN facilities on 2n. Furthermore, they starte cooperation with international organizations on June 2012, an also starte collaboration with ODA projects that aim to support more sustainable an inepenent socioeconomic evelopment. Such cooperation will make it possible to contribute to activities more beneficial for the local communities. Since December 2013, there have been arme confrontations an collisions between the government troops an rebel forces, generating a large number of IDPs (Internally Displace Persons). While paying close attention to the service members security, the SDF is currently conucting various activities to support IDPs at the UN facilities locate in Juba. The engineer unit has been engaging in the construction of IDP camps an peripheral fences at the UN House. Din SOUTH SUDAN En Nahu Abu Zaba E Da'ein Nuba Mts. Buram ab Kuacjok l Warrap Unity Wau Upper Nile So b a t u ng Po r Wh i ETHIOPIA P ib o Rumbek Jonglei Lakes o Lo J ur S Western Bahr el Ghazal Malakal Bentiu Aweil CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC W Abyei Northern Bahr el Ghazal Kafia Kingi y Ab a hi t e Ni le Abyei region r af ' Ar z Za el Bah r e hr Raom SOUTH SUDAN Kologi Taloi Ba promoting Japan s African iplomacy. As a responsible member of global community, Japan shoul proactively engage in state builing with other major countries. Especially, personnel contribution such as infrastructure evelopment has a great significance since it will contribute to the state builing of South Suan as well as respon to the UN s request. It will also be an opportunity to emonstrate the SDF s high performance to the worl, an contribute to the enhancement of Japan s reliability. Famaka Kaugli Mugla Q3. What is the significance of ispatching SDF personnel to South Suan? A3. After achieving its inepenence, fulfilling CPA, an ening the long civil war, South Suan is now going through a crucial perio for its state builing. Securing peace an stability of South Suan is a very important agena for global community an each country must tackle it. As a country rich in natural resources, South Suan s evelopment by making the most of its potential will contribute to the stability of the whole African continent. It is also important to enhance relationship with South Suan in terms of E Damazin SUDAN Al Fula Tullus er A2. Unite Nations Mission in Suan (UNMIS) was establishe after the conclusion of CPA to eal with issues concerning Southern an Northern parts of Suan. Since October 2008, Japan has ispatche two staff officers on site. At the time of the inepenence of South Suan, UNMISS was establishe by the UN Security Council resolution No aopte on July 8th, 2011, with the aim of fostering the state builing of the worl s newest state. A4. Staff officer an engineer unit have been ispatche to South Suan. Regaring the staff officer, two members (an information officer an a logistics officer) in November 2011 an one member (an engineering officer) in January 2012 were ispatche. Three officers work in the UNMISS Heaquarters in Juba. The engineer unit has been ispatche since January 2012 to engage in the construction of infrastructure such as roas an the site preparation. Currently, there are approx. 400 personnel ispatche. The coorination section is specialize in coorination tasks. The team in Juba is conucting coorination an consultation relate to activities of the engineer unit with the UN, the South Suan Government an relevant organi- J onglei Ca n al A1. The country is situate in the center of the eastern part of the African continent, an has an area of approx. 640,000 square kilometers (approx. 1.7 times larger than Japan) with a population of approx million (as of 2012). Its capital city is Juba. South Suan is the worl s newest country which achieve its inepenence in July 9th 2011, after the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) perio of six years following the en of its long civil war with the north. Since December 2013, arme confrontations between government troops an rebel forces have been continuing. However, the global community has been working har for the stability of South Suan. The UN Security Council unanimously aopte a resolution to reinforce the personnel in the Unite Nations Mission in the Republic of South Suan (UNMISS), an Japan will continue to engage in this PKO activity. Q4. What kin of personnel has been ispatche from the SDF to South Suan? te Ni le Bor Western Equatoria The Republic of South Suan Overview Area: 640,000 km2 (1.7 times the size of Japan) Population: million people (as of 2012) Capital: Juba Language: English (official language) Many other tribal languages are also spoken Religion: Christianity an native religions 6 Yambio DEM. REP. OF THE CONGO Central Equatoria Kenamuke Kobowen Aministrative bounary Eastern Equatoria Juba Torit Lotagipi L. Turkana (L. Ruolf) KENYA In aition to A activities UG N D A in Juba an its surrouning areas, the MOD has ecie to expan its activities to Eastern an Western Equatoria states in response to the UN nees 7

5 COLUMN ~ Scenery of Japan ~ Mount Fuji Mount Fuji, an active volcano nestle between Shizuoka an Yamanashi Prefectures on Honshu Islan, is Japan s most prominent an tallest mountain at 3,776 meters (12,389 feet). A quintessential symbol of Japan, its graceful peak has been the source of inspiration for Japanese artwork since ancient times. In Japan, where both a mountain s natural beauty an wil ferocity are celebrate simultaneously, this volcano is revere as a holy symbol an is also known as the Sacre Mount Fuji to the Japanese people. Ascening to the top of the mountain s summit can only be accomplishe uring the summer months from early July through the first week of September. In 2013, as a Sacre place an source of artistic inspiration, it was registere as a worl cultural heritage. The GSDF also hosts the annual Fuji Firepower, Exercise emonstration at the East Fuji Training Area beneath the backrop of this majestic mountain. Open to the public since 1966, military members from U.S. Forces Japan an surrouning bases are also invite to witness an review an impressive isplay of a variety of GSDF weaponry an tactics. Latest News Dispatch of International Disaster Relief Unit to Malaysia (10 Mar.) Troop Inspection by Defense Minister Onoera (15 Mar.) Visit by Dr. John Chipman, Director-General an Chief Executive, International Institute for Strategic Stuies (17 Mar.) Aministrative Vice-Minister of Defense Nishi attens Jakarta International Defense Dialogue (JIDD) (19~20 Mar.) Grauation Ceremony of the GSDF High Technical School (21 Mar.) UN Engineer Unit Manual Tokyo Workshop (26~28 Mar.) Check out web-only articles an photo galleries at our website : Let us know your comments an opinions by answering the quick survey! For inquiry, contact following office: Public Affairs Division, Ministry of Defense, Japan TEL: (switch boar) Web: 8