Organizational Reform Concerning the National Security Policy Division, Foreign Policy Bureau

November 4, 2008
Japanese

On November 4 (Tue), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs newly established the Maritime Security Policy Division under the National Security Policy Division of Foreign Policy Bureau. Japan, as a trading nation, recognizes the importance to ensuring maritime security, which is directly linked to Japan’s existence and prosperity, such as navigational security and countermeasures against terrorism and piracy. The newly-established Division will take charge of the planning and other matters of diplomatic policies concerning maritime security.
On the same day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also decided to transfer the International Peace Cooperation Division from the United Nations Policy Division, Foreign Policy Bureau, to the National Security Policy Division of the same Bureau. Cooperation to UN peacekeeping operations which is being dealt with by the International Peace Cooperation Division is understood to consist a part of national security policy, similarly with activities based on laws such as the Special Measures Law on Iraq. To deal with these operations in a more integrated and consistent manner, the Ministry decided to transfer the International Peace Cooperation Division to the National Security Policy Division, which engages in related work such as assistance activities carried out by the Self Defense Forces in Iraq.

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