Maritime Security

Implementation of Capacity Building Executive Programme on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia

October 12, 2017

(1) On the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the founding of ASEAN, Capacity Building Executive Programme on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia was held in Tokyo Metropolis, Kanagawa Prefecture and Hiroshima Prefecture from September 30 and October 7, in which officers including from ASEAN ten member states’ maritime law enforcement agencies participated.
(2) Through this Executive Programme, the participants attended lectures on such topics as maritime safety by officials from Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defense and Japan Coast Guard, while exchanging views with the Japanese Shipowners’ Association and the third batch of students from Maritime Safety and Security Policy Program. They also visited Japan Coast Guard-related facilities, including the 3rd Regional Coast Guard Headquarters in Yokohama city, Kanagawa Prefecture and Japan Coast Guard Academy in Kure city, Hiroshima Prefecture. On October 2, Mr. Masahisa Sato, State Minister for Foreign Affairs, hosted the welcome reception.

(1) Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) Information Sharing Centre implemented this Executive Programme in cooperation with the relevant ministries. The fact that the ReCAAP ISC implemented capacity building assistance for ASEAN ten member states for the first time in a visible manner was meaningful.
(2) It was useful that this Executive Programme provided an opportunity for the participants to deepen their understanding on Japan’s efforts and views on such topics as the importance of safety of sea lanes, freedom of navigation, rule of law at sea, enhanced cooperation among maritime law enforcement agencies and counter piracy/armed robbery against ships operations by utilizing the ReCAAP framework.
(3) Through this Executive Programme, it is expected that ASEAN member states’ maritime law enforcement capability will be strengthened and that regional cooperation will be further enhanced through continued practical cooperation and building human network in the years to come.