RESPONDING TO WMD CHALLENGES IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC:
DIPLOMACY AND DETERRENCE
H.E. Yoshinori Ohno
Minister of State for Defense, Japan
“Responding to WMD Challenges in the Asia-Pacific:
Diplomacy and Deterrence”
4th Asia Security Conference
Singapore, 4 June 2005
Check against delivery
The Honorable Chair, Dr. John Chipman,
Distinguished Colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
First of all, I would like to express my appreciation to Dr. Chipman and his staff, who elaborated this Dialogue as one of the major high-level security forums in the Asia-Pacific region. My gratitude also goes to the government of Singapore, which has been hosting this Conference from the outset. It is indeed my pleasure and honor to have an opportunity to address you all on the occasion of the 4th IISS Asia Security Conference, the Shangri-La Dialogue. As I understand, the word “Shangri-La” means paradise. I hope the Shangri-La Dialogue will make this world a little closer to paradise.
[Reborn as a Peace-Supporting Country]
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is Sixty years since the end of World War II. According to the oriental zodiac, 60 years is considered to be one complete life cycle. Sixty years ago, Japan was reborn as a peace-loving and democratic country. Now at the beginning of a new life cycle, Japan should be reborn this time as not only a peace-loving but also a peace-supporting nation. This April in Bandung, Prime Minister Koizumi clearly indicated Japan’s future course, while reconfirming recognition of the past War with feeling of deep remorse and heartfelt apology. We are becoming increasingly aware that it is not enough only to love peace and long for it: it is also essential to actively contribute to creating a favorable international security environment in order to maintain peace and stability in the world. As you know, the world is getting smaller and smaller through increasing interdependence and the development of new technologies.
The government of Japan adopted the new National Defense Program Guidelines in December last year. Let me highlight some important aspects of the Guidelines: First, the basis of our defense policy remains unchanged: namely, our policy is exclusively defense-oriented, and Japan will never become a military power that might pose a threat to foreign countries. Second, the Japan-US Alliance continues to play a significant role not only in ensuring Japan’s security but also in enhancing the peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific region. Third, we have to tailor our policy in the face of the new international situation to participate actively in international peace cooperation.
I would now like to explain our perception of the security environment first, then touch upon the existing efforts and framework to cope with the challenges we face now, and finally suggest some areas where we can further enhance our cooperation.
[Security Environment in the Asia-Pacific Region]
Let me first comment on the security environment of the region. Tensions in the Asia-Pacific region are far from easing. Regrettably, there are various areas in which potential causes of conflict continue to create uncertainty.
The situation in the Korean Peninsula remains one of the most serious concerns for the security of the region. North Korea is engaged in the development, deployment and proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and its means of delivery, that is, ballistic missiles. Its provoking attitude, such as its announcement of withdrawal from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) or its recent declaration that it possesses nuclear weapons, constitutes a major destabilizing factor to regional and international security, and is a serious challenge to international non-proliferation efforts. North Korea’s attempt to develop ballistic missiles has continued over decades, and I vividly recall that it launched a ballistic missile over Japan in August 1998. As a member of the Diet, I immediately flew to New York and expounded on the seriousness of the incident to UN Security Council members. North Korea’s insincere response to the issue of the abduction of Japanese nationals is also a grave concern. According to a recent opinion poll, two-thirds of Japanese support a hard line such as economic sanctions against North Korea, which is evidence of how frustrated the Japanese people are with North Korea’s attitude. The immediate and unconditional return of North Korea to the Six-party Talks is of utmost importance, and is a first step towards North Korea becoming a responsible member of the international community. The countries concerned will have to make sincere efforts to urge North Korea to open its doors, keep its promises and observe international rules.
Japan is also very attentive to the security situation in neighboring areas, including the development of cross- Taiwan Strait relations and the situation regarding the Malacca Straits and others, as international sea and air lanes pass through these areas.
[Efforts and Framework against Proliferation of WMD: MD, PSI]
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Let me focus for a moment on the issue of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), which is the main topic of this particular session. Proliferation of WMD is an issue of global concern, and as we can see from the example of North Korea, the Asia-Pacific region is never exempt from the threat of WMD. International efforts to prevent such proliferation in this region, therefore, are vitally important.
Japan is the first country in the world to experience terrorism using chemical gas in an attack in the subways that happened 10 years ago. So we are fully aware of the importance of fighting against such threats. Japan will develop multi-functional, flexible and effective defense forces in order to respond effectively to new threats and various situations including proliferation of WMD. One of the capabilities to be acquired is Missile Defense, as clearly addressed in the new Guidelines. The Missile Defense system is purely defense-oriented, not designed to attack the territories of other countries, and never responding unless attacked by ballistic missiles. In another opinion poll, two-thirds of Japanese supported the introduction of the Missile Defense system, and the government of Japan has submitted a bill that authorizes the Self-Defense Forces to counterattack ballistic missiles rapidly within a few minutes, under proper civilian control. We hope the Missile Defense system will contribute greatly to international efforts for countering the proliferation of WMD and its means of delivery.
The international community has developed various treaties and arrangements against the proliferation of WMD. Japan is strongly committed to such efforts. Japan also participates, as a core member, in voluntary efforts for non-proliferation such as the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI). Last October, for the first time in the East Asia region, Japan hosted the Maritime Interdiction Exercise. And Japan is considering to send vessels and aircraft of the Self-Defense Forces to the exercise to be held here in Singapore in August. I hope that there will be wider participation in efforts for non-proliferation, such as the Proliferation Security Initiative.
[Exploration of Further Cooperation: Disaster Relief, Maritime Security, Humanitarian
and Reconstruction Assistance]
Now, I would like to discuss how countries in the region, particularly the armed forces of those countries, can cooperate to tackle the various challenges we face.
Compared to Europe, there is a greater diversity in the region in terms of political systems, economic development, and social conditions. Individual countries, including Japan, have many different conditions and sensitivities. This does not mean that we should give up efforts to seek international security collaboration in this part of the world. Let us start from something small and practical in the area where cooperation is possible; then we can proceed step by step bilaterally and through multilateral frameworks such as the ASEAN Regional Forum. And that will lead to a greater scope of mutual cooperation in the future.
Under the new security environment, the role of the armed forces has been changing. I believe that enhancing defense relations at all levels will contribute to mutual understanding and confidence-building. Cooperation should not be limited to military operations in the traditional sense. Let me illustrate some examples of new areas of cooperation among armed forces: disaster relief, maritime security activities, and humanitarian and reconstruction assistance.
The Self-Defense Forces of Japan have actively engaged in disaster relief. In response to the Sumatran earthquake and tsunami disaster, Japan dispatched Self-Defense Forces totaling one thousand and six hundred personnel to Thailand and Indonesia. We extended cooperation in the field of transportation, medical care and so on. Disaster relief is an area where it is relatively easy for countries in the region to cooperate, despite their sensitivities and various conditions. So this is an example of the ground from where we all can start building up cooperation. The Japan Defense Agency will host the Tokyo Defense Forum this month, to discuss and share experiences about the roles of armed forces in disaster relief, based on the vivid memory of the recent tsunami disaster relief operations.
With respect to maritime security, Japan has a vital interest in sea lanes passing through this region. Therefore, Japan has already taken the initiative in the RECAAP process. Japan was recently shocked by a pirate assault on a Japanese tugboat in the Strait of Malacca. We fully recognize that littoral states have primary responsibility, and that activities for securing maritime transportation should be conducted within relevant domestic and international laws. Yet we believe that it is necessary for the countries in the region to exchange views towards possible future cooperation. Through such exchange of views, we may be able to find proper roles for each country in the region to contribute to the safety of maritime traffic.
With regard to humanitarian and reconstruction assistance in Iraq, the Self-Defense Forces are actively engaged, in close cooperation with the Iraqi authorities, in providing assistance to the Iraqi people, such as road improvement works, repairs to schools and providing medical services, in Samawah. The way in which the Japan Self-Defense Forces are conducting cooperation in Iraq has gained the sympathy of the Iraqi people. I felt this personally when I visited Samawah last December. I was moved to see almost all citizens, particularly children, warmly waving to me. Let me add that assistance by the government of Japan in Iraq is not limited to the activities of the Self-Defense Forces. The government of Japan recently decided to provide electric power plants under the scheme of Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA). We believe activities of the Self-Defense Forces and of the ODA are both important for the development of Iraq.
[Conclusion]
We are looking forward to strengthening our international cooperation, although much remains to be done in the forthcoming years. And, as I said earlier, countries in the Asia-Pacific region should also build up their international cooperation step by step.
Let me conclude my remarks with a Buddhist phrase “JiRi-RiTa.” This could be interpreted as “Benefit others, and you will benefit from them also.” The new Guidelines stress the importance of engaging in peace cooperation activities to improve the security environment, based on the idea that the world peace is Japan’s peace, as the phrase “JiRi-RiTa” suggests. I hope this idea will be widely shared among us.
Thank you.
