Japan Aff Michigan


XT: Japan KT Maritime Security



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XT: Japan KT Maritime Security



Japan key to Southeast Asia’s maritime security.

Sato, 7- professor and an expert in international and comparative political economy of the Asia-Pacific region and Japanese foreign policy (Yoichiro, September, 2000, “Southeast Asian Receptiveness to Japanese Maritime Security Cooperation,” http://www.stormingmedia.us/66/6642/A664274.html)
Japan’s role in ensuring maritime security in Southeast Asia has received some attention in recent years. Japan’s primary focus on the Malacca Strait has resulted in close cooperation with the three littoral states (Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia), but Japan’s newer initiatives for multilateral cooperation encompass a broader set of countries in East Asia. Japan particularly sees Thailand as a potential partner for maritime security cooperation. At the same time, divergence of interests and differences in institutional settings between Japan and Southeast Asian countries pose some obstacles to closer cooperation. This article will assess Japan’s maritime security cooperation with Southeast Asia and explore implications for U.S. policy. Japan has also conducted training courses for maritime law enforcement officials from ASEAN countries, China, and South Korea. Japan’s status as the predominant user of the Strait has gradually declined as other industrializing states of East Asia have increased their dependence on this key waterway. As security of the Strait became a common good, Japan sought to ensure equitable cost sharing through a multilateral framework. At a meeting of the IMO in Kuala Lumpur in September 2006, Japan proposed voluntary cost sharing for safety, security, and environmental protection of the Malacca and Singapore Straits among the three littoral states, user states, the shipping industry, and other stakeholders. Multilateral institution building has turned out to be an onerous task for Japan. Japan proposed the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP), which emphasized sharing information about ships victimized by and suspected of committing piracy and armed robbery. This agreement did not cover other maritime crimes such as illegal migration, smuggling, and terrorism. The scope of the information sharing initiative covered both piracy incidents in international waters (for which jurisdiction under the Law of the Sea belongs to the flag nation) and “armed robbery” in territorial waters (for which jurisdiction traditionally belonged to the littoral state). Inclusion of the latter has been one, and likely the most important, factor deterring Malaysia and Indonesia from signing the ReCAAP. Sixteen countries (Japan, China, South Korea, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and ten ASEAN nations) participated in the negotiation and adopted the initial agreement in November 2004. A minimum of ten signatories was required for the agreement to enter into force, and the agreement took effect in September 2006, but without China, Malaysia and Indonesia. China signed and ratified later.

Okinawa KT Japan-Southeast Asian Relations



Okinawa is the keystone of the Pacific- it’s location puts Japan in close contact to other Asian nations.

Pike, 9- world’s leading experts on defense, space and intelligence policy, director of GlobalSecurity.org (John E., 11/16/09, “Okinawa, Japan,” http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/okinawa.htm)
The early US explorers labeled Okinawa as the "Keystone of the Pacific" since Taipei, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Seoul, Manila, and Tokyo all lie within a 1,500 km radius of the islands. Okinawa is equidistant from several parts of the Pacific, whether it's Tokyo, Seoul, Taiwan or the Philippines. If there is a trouble spot in the Pacific and [DoD] needs to move forces quickly, Okinawa has the facilities to support that response. The forward deployment on Okinawa significantly shortens transit times, thereby promoting early arrival in potential regional trouble spots such as the Korean peninsula and the Taiwan straits, a significant benefit in the initial stages of a conflict. For example, it takes 2 hours to fly to the Korean peninsula from Okinawa, as compared with about 5 hours from Guam, 11 hours from Hawaii, and 16 hours from the continental United States. Similarly, it takes about 1 1/2 days to make the trip from Okinawa by ship to South Korea, as compared with about 5 days from Guam, 12 days from Hawaii, and 17 days from the continental United States.
Okinawa’s location is key to connecting Japan to Southeast nations.

Chinen, 90- University of the Ryukus, third-prize winner in the Japanese section of the ninth annual Japan-U.S. Essay Contest (Masami, 2/15/90, “Okinawa: A Window to Southeast Asia,” Lexis Nexis)

Japan as a major economic power has great responsibility toward the international community. It is the duty of Japan to transfer its technology and know-how to developing countries. Internationalization is inevitable in this age of bilateral dependence and tangled national interests. Exchange must go beyond the state level; community- and grass-roots-level communication should also be promoted globally. What is the ideal form of international exchange in Okinawa-ken, located at the southern end of the Japanese archipelago? The promotion of exchange must be based on the characteristics unique to Okinawa, whose geographical and historical background is different from most other areas of Japan. The islands of Okinawa are surrounded by ocean, with mainland Japan and the Korean peninsula located to the north, Taiwan, the Philippines and other Southeast Asian nations to the south, China to the west and the Pacific islands and the U.S. continent to the east. Okinawa, in a way, is located at the crossing between Asia and the Pacific. It takes merely an hour to fly from Naha, Okinawa-ken's capital, to Taipei. The distance between Naha and Manila is about the same as the distance from Naha to Tokyo. From a historical viewpoint, Okinawa has been subjected to the rule of several different countries, including China, Japan and the United States, until it finally achieved the right of self-governemnt as a prefecture. In ancient times, when Okinawa was called the Rukyu kingdom, it maintained close ties with China through trade as a tributary state, and received great political and cultural influence. Also it actively traded with Southeast Asian countries. The period under U.S. military occupation, from 1945 to 1972, was an ordeal for Okinawa. Today, 75 percent of all the U.S. military bases in Japan are located in Okinawa. Okinawans face various problems resulting from this type of existence. Okinawa was both assaulter and victim during the last war. While helping Japanese military to invade China and Southeast Asia, Okinawa became the only place in Japan where land battles were fought, which killed a great number of citizens. With such a historical background, Okinawa can easily understand the antipathy of Southeast Asian nations toward Japan. It is important to promote individual, heart-to-heart exchanges with the people in these countries. I believe Okinawa can act as a bridge between Japan and Southeast Asian nations. The nature of Okinawans is ideal for promotion of international exchange. The open, generous attitude of local people and relaxed social atmosphere would surely make visitors at home. There is a phrase in Okinawan dialect meaning "once acquainted, we are brothers." Okinawa is also the home of emigrants. Many Okinawa residents have relatives and friends who had moved to foreign countries, including Hawaii and South America, to make a living. There was even a time when these emigrants provided financial support to Okinawa. Uchinaanchu, or native Okinawans, are always ready to welcome foreign visitors, largely because their kinsmen were accepted in foreign societies. The overseas network of uchinaanchu would be an advantageous factor for international exchange in Okinawa. The time has passed when Japan can look only toward the United States and Europe for relations. The world is developing into a multipolar structure and Third World countries, headed by the NIES, are stepping forward onto the global stage. Therefore, it is necessary for Japan to focus its attention on neighboring Asian countries. Based on the recognition that Japan is a part of Asia, Japan should associate with its Asian counterparts on equal terms. As Japan tries to promote its ties with Asia, Okinawa can act as a pipeline between the two entities. I began to think of international exchange through my associations at university with foreign students. The number of foreign students at Ryukyu University increases every year, and at present exceeds 100, including students sponsored by the government and prefecture and those who were sent by their own state governments. Students from Taiwan, the closest nation to Okinawa, tops foreign students at the university, followed by Chinese, Malaysian and Indonesian students. While students from Asia account for more than half of the student body, the number of second and third-generation Japanese emigrants to South American countries who come to study at Ryuku also soars annually. I learned about foreign countries through these students, and through my attempt to explain Okinawa to them. These exchanges helped me take an objective view of Okinawa. Once we got over the language barrier, cultural, religious and social differences did not affect the mutual understanding between us. The increase in foreign students is also an important source for promoting an Okinawa-based exchange. However, Okinawa needs a more aggressive approach, so that it can act as a window to Southeast Asia. Okinawa depends too much on governmental bodies to create opportunities for international exchange. Exchange should be promoted on the grass-roots level, with students and local residents taking the initiative. When Japan brings up the concept of an Asia-Pacific community, with its emphasis on the Asia region, Okinawa should become the focus of attention. Okinawans should be aware of their own position and the importance of Okinawa's role in the coming international society. The task lies especially with the younger generations, who are going to shoulder the trials and tribulations of the 21st century. We should take the lead in international exchange for the sake of further development in Asia and Okinawa.



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