SDF s International Disaster Relief Activities in Nepal

Transcription

1 The Latest News on the Ministry of Defense and Self-Defense Forces 65 No. Jun JAPAN DEFENSE FOCUS SPECIAL FEATURE SDF s International Disaster Relief Activities in Nepal TOPICS Defense Minister Nakatani s Visit to the U.S. The Security Consultative Committee - A Stronger Alliance for a Dynamic Security Environment - Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Defense Hirotaka Ishikawa Visited Uganda, Djibouti, South Sudan, and Bahrain State Minister of Defense Akira Sato Visited Bulgaria and Estonia The 14th IISS Asia Security Summit - Shangri-La Dialogue - Visits to New Zealand and Australia by Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Defense Kenji Harada Delivery of the First Refurbished F-2 Memorial Ship Mikasa - The Pride of Meiji Japan - Cover Photograph : SDF s International Disaster Relief Activities in Nepal MINISTRY OF DEFENSE

2 Special Feature SDF s International Disaster Relief Activities in Nepal Special Feature CHINA JAPAN NEPAL NEPAL Mt. Everest Kathmandu INDIA a Park tance at Ratn Medical Assis Playing with Children in Chuchepat i At 15:00 JST April 25th, 2015, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Nepal, causing widespread damages. On April 27th, the Nepalese government requested assistance from the SDF. The MOD organized a Medical Assistance Unit through Japan Disaster Relief Team (JDR) framework, to conduct urgently needed medical service assistance. An operation order to dispatch the Japan Self-Defense Disaster Relief Team was issued on the same day, April 27th. The team consisted of a Joint Operations Coordination Center (four personnel), a Medical Assistance Unit (approx. 110 personnel), and an Airlift Unit (approx. 160 personnel). Immediately upon arrival, these personnel began medical and other related relief activities primarily in Kathmandu. 2 The SDF s international disaster relief activities in Nepal were based on the needs of the Nepalese government which were prepared in detail at the Multi National Military Coordination centering Kathmandu. Members from the Joint Operations Coordination Center mainly took part in these coordination activities. The Medical Assistance Unit began providing medical assistance from April 30th, and treated for approx. 2,900 people at five locations throughout Kathmandu and its neighborhood by May 18th. In addition, the Unit gave a lecture on mental health to approx. 40 staff and students of Tribhuvan University and conducted epidemic prevention activities in the town of Melamchi. The Airlift Unit twice conducted airlift operations in order to transport the necessary materials and equipment, including medical supplies, by C-130 transport aircraft from Japan to Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport. On May 19th, in response to a request by the Nepalese government, an order was issued to bring the SDF s Nepal mission to a close, concluding all activities. The Nepalese government, including Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, expressed their deepest appreciation to the SDF activities. Airlift of Materials and Equipment 3

3 Topics Topics Defense Minister Nakatani s Visit to the U.S. 3 1 : Meeting with U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan / 2 : Meeting with U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono / 3 : Visit to Naval Station Norfolk and Marine Corps Base Quantico / 4 : Japan-U.S. Defense Ministerial Meeting / 5 : Laid a flower wreath at Ground Zero / 6 : Meeting with U.S. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus / 7 : Met with General Martin Dempsey, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Defense Minister Gen Nakatani visited the U.S. from April 26th to April 30th (U.S. Eastern time), where he took part in the Japan-U.S. Security Consultative Committee (SCC) Meeting ( 2+2 Meeting) and the Japan-U.S. Defense Ministerial Meeting. In addition, he participated in the Japan-U.S. Summit Meeting and visited U.S. force bases. Japan-U.S. Security Consultative Committee (SCC) ( 2+2 Meeting) (April 27th) Minister Nakatani together with Minister for Foreign Affairs Fumio Kishida met with their counterparts Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and Secretary of State John Kerry at the 2+2 Meeting held in New York, where they approved the new Guidelines for Japan-U.S. Defense Cooperation and issued the joint statement. Meeting with U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan and Senator Mazie Hirono (April 27th) Minister Nakatani met with Senator Dan Sullivan and Senator Mazie Hirono in Washington, D.C. and exchanged views on the new Guidelines for Japan-U.S. Defense Cooperation and the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan. Japan-U.S. Summit Meeting (April 28th) Minister Nakatani participated in the Japan-U.S. Summit Meeting held at the White House, where both leaders affirmed that deterrence and response capabilities would be strengthened under the new Guidelines for Japan-U.S. Defense Cooperation. 4 5 Japan-U.S. Defense Ministerial Meeting (April 28th) Minister Nakatani met with his counterpart Secretary of Defense Ash Carter at the U.S. Department of Defense for the second time. The Ministers agreed to strengthen cooperation with Southeast Asian countries and trilateral defense cooperation between Japan, the U.S. and the Republic of Korea. They also affirmed the importance of immediately implementing the content of the new Guidelines for JapanU.S. Defense Cooperation. Visit to Naval Station Norfolk and Marine Corps Base Quantico (April 29th) Minister Nakatani took Osprey from Washington, D.C., and visited Naval Station Norfolk and Marine Corps Base Quantico, both located in Virginia. At Naval Station Norfolk, he toured the USS Barry, a destroyer that will be deployed to Yokosuka in February 2016, and E-2D airborne early warning and control aircraft that will be procured by the ASDF. At Marine Corps Base Quantico, he met with Lieutenant General Glueck, Commanding General, Marine Corps Deputy Commandant of Combat Development Command (former III Marine Expeditionary Force Commander and Okinawa Area Coordinator), from who he asked for the cooperation of the U.S. Marine Corps for mitigating the impact of U.S. forces on Okinawa and enhancing the SDF s amphibious capabilities. 7 The Security Consultative Committee Minister for Foreign Affairs Fumio Kishida, Minister of Defense Gen Nakatani, Secretary of State John Kerry, and Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter convened the Japan-U.S. Security Consultative Committee (SCC) in New York on April 27th, In light of the evolving security environment, the Ministers reconfirmed the Alliance s commitment to the security of Japan and to the maintenance of international peace and security. The Ministers announced the approval and release of new, revised Guidelines for Japan-U.S. Defense Cooperation (the Guidelines), which update the roles and missions of the two countries and promote a more balanced and effective Alliance to meet the emerging security challenges of the 21st century. The Ministers discussed a variety of regional and global challenges, initiatives to enhance bilateral security and defense cooperation in various areas, promotion of enhanced regional cooperation, and moving forward on the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan. As articulated in its 2015 National Security Strategy, the United States is actively implementing its rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region. Central to this is the ironclad U.S. commitment to the defense of Japan, through the full range of U.S. military capabilities, including nuclear and conventional. Japan highly values U.S. engagement in the region. In this context, the Ministers reaffirmed the indispensable role of the Japan-U.S. Alliance in promoting regional peace, security, and prosperity. A Stronger Alliance for a Dynamic Security Environment As Japan continues its policy of Proactive Contribution to Peace, based on the principle of international cooperation, the United States welcomes and supports Japan s recent monumental achievements. Among these are: the cabinet decision by the Government of Japan on July 1st, 2014, for developing seamless security legislation; the creation of its National Security Council; the Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology; the Act on the Protection of Specially Designated Secrets; the Basic Act on Cybersecurity; the new Basic Plan on Space Policy; and the Development Cooperation Charter. The Ministers affirmed that the Japan-U.S. Alliance, strengthened by the new Guidelines and the two countries respective security and defense policies, continues to serve as the cornerstone of peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region as well as a platform for promoting a more peaceful and stable international security environment. The Ministers also reaffirmed that the Senkaku Islands are territories under the administration of Japan and therefore fall within the scope of the commitments under Article 5 of the Japan-U.S. Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security, and that they oppose any unilateral action that seeks to undermine Japan s administration of these islands. Others On April 26th, Minister Nakatani visited Ground Zero in New York where he laid a wreath of flowers. On 28th, he visited Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia and met with General Martin Dempsey, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. On 29th, he held a talk with U.S. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, where both affirmed continued close cooperation to further strengthen the Japan-U.S. Alliance. 5

4 Meeting with Foreign Leaders Meeting with Foreign Leaders State Minister of Defense Akira Sato Visited Bulgaria and Estonia The 14th IISS Asia Security Summit - Shangri-La Dialogue - Defense Minister Nakatani visited Singapore from May 30th to 31st where he attended the 14th IISS Asia Security Summit (The Shangri-La Dialogue). He gave a speech during a session and also held talks with defense ministers from other countries. From May 3rd to 8th 2015, State Minister of Defense Akira Sato visited Bulgaria and Estonia. He had meetings and exchanged views with government officials and others in both countries. In addition, he paid a visit to military facilities and so forth. Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Defense Hirotaka Ishikawa Visited Uganda, Djibouti, South Sudan, and Bahrain Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Defense Hirotaka Ishikawa paid visits to Uganda, Djibouti, South Sudan, and Bahrain from April 30th to May 6th, In those countries, he had meetings with government officials and exchanged views. He also visited the SDF counter-piracy measure headquarters in Djibouti and UNMISS Japan camp in South Sudan. Uganda Bulgaria Estonia Visits to New Zealand and Australia by Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Defense Kenji Harada Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Defense Kenji Harada visited New Zealand and Australia from April 27th to May 2nd, He exchanged views at the meetings with defense officials in both countries and visited military facilities and so forth. Djibouti South Sudan New Zealand Bahrain Australia 6 Activities Delivery of the First Refurbished F-2 A delivery ceremony was held at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Komaki Minami Plant (Toyoyama Town, Aichi Prefecture) on April 21st to mark the completion of refurbishment work on the F-2B fighter jets that were damaged at Matsushima Air Base (Miyagi Prefecture) during the Great East Japan Earthquake of March No. 106 F-2B is the first refurbished fighter jet among 13 of the 18 damaged fighter jets that the MOD made a decision to refurbish. No. 106 F-2B took off from Komaki Air Base at around 2:40 pm together with companion aircraft that had flown in from Misawa Air Base (Aomori Prefecture). These F-2s will be used for pilot training for a set period of time at Misawa Air Base and then returned to Matsushima Air Base. 7

5 Column Memorial Ship Mikasa The Pride of Meiji Japan TOKYO Yokosuka I n 1902, Japan welcomed the battleship Mikasa to Yokosuka after it was built at a Vickers Shipbuilding in the U.K. In 1905, the Mikasa, serving as the flagship vessel for the Combined Fleet led by Admiral Heihachiro Togo, Commander-in Chief of the Combined Fleet, battled the Russian Baltic Fleet, considered to be among the strongest in the world at the time, and contributed to Japan s victory. Later, the Mikasa was decommissioned. Amid calls to preserve this important vessel, the City of Yokosuka established Mikasa Park where the vessel would be preserved. Yokosuka was previously home to a steel mill (shipyard), and under the guidance of French engineer Léonce Verny Japan s first large stone-made dry dock was constructed there. This dry dock continues to be used today at United States Fleet Activities Yokosuka some 140 years later. This year is the 110th anniversary of the Sea of Japan Naval Battle and the City of Yokosuka has held a commemorative ceremony and performance by the MSDF Tokyo Band. Additionally, every Mikasa Park and MSDF Yokosuka District play host to the popular Yokosuka YY Norimono Festa (transportation festival), where MSDF vessels are open to the public for tours. Yokosuka is approx. an hour from Tokyo by train. LATEST NEWS Admiral Katsutoshi Kawano, Chief of Staff, Joint Staff, visited the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (10-14 May) Send-off Ceremony of the UNMISS 8th Engineer Unit (19 May) Departure Ceremony of FY2015 MSDF Overseas Training Squadron (21 May) General Harukazu Saitoh, Chief of Staff, ASDF, visited the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam and the Republic of the Philippines (24-30 May) In the two countries, General Saitoh had meetings with defense officials and exchanged views on security issues as well as defense cooperation and exchanges. He also visited military facilities in both countries. His visit aims at deepening mutual understanding and strengthening trusting relationships between the two countries air forces and the ASDF, while encouraging defense cooperation and exchanges. Honor Guard to Admiral Katsutoshi Kawano, Chief of Staff JDF NEWSLETTER Be the first to receive updates! Send us a blank message at jdfmod@mod.go.jp to sign up for our newsletter. For inquiry, contact following office: Public Affairs Division, Ministry of Defense, Japan TEL: (switch board) Web: : 8 " We Are Tomodachi Summer 2015" Released