Japan's Security / Peace & Stability of the International Community
The Ninth Meeting of the Japan-U.S. Comprehensive Dialogue on Space
August 28, 2024
The Ninth Meeting of the Japan-U.S. Comprehensive Dialogue on Space was held in Washington D.C., the U.S. from August 26 to 27, 2024.
- The Meeting was attended by officials from the space-related ministries and agencies of Japan and the United States, who exchanged information on the space policies of their respective countries. Both sides also comprehensively discussed Japan-U.S. space cooperation in a wide range of areas, including global partnerships, such as multilateral and regional frameworks, commercial space, space security and civil space, as well as cross-sectoral issues. As a result of the Dialogue, both sides issued a joint statement (PDF)
. - The Japanese delegation was led by Mr. KAZEKI Jun, Director General, National Space Policy Secretariat of the Cabinet Office and Mr. KUMAGAI Naoki, Ambassador in charge of International Security Policy (Deputy Assistant-Minister, Foreign Policy Bureau). The U.S. delegation was led by Mr. Chirag Parikh, Deputy Assistant to the President and Executive Secretary, National Space Council and Mr. Jason Israel, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Defense Policy, National Security Council. From Japan, the principal participants included those from the Cabinet Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the National Security Secretariat; the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC); the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT); the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI); the Ministry of the Environment; the Ministry of Defense; the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT); the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA); and the Embassy of Japan in the United States of America. From the U.S., the principal participants were from the Department of State; the Department of Defense; the Department of Commerce; the Department of Transportation; the Department of Interior; the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); the Office of the Director of National Intelligence; the Office of the National Cyber Director and the Office of Science and Technology Policy.
- The Joint Statement includes the following key points:
- Both sides gave updates on their respective space policies and strategies, including the U.S. Novel Space Activities Authorization and Supervision Framework, NASA’s Space Sustainability Strategy, and Japan’s Basic Plan on Space Policy, Space Security Initiative, Space Technology Strategy and Space Strategy Fund.
- Japan and the United States shared views on threats to space and the use of space by strategic competitors. In this regard, both sides reaffirmed the obligation of all States Parties to fully comply with the Outer Space Treaty, including not to place in orbit around the Earth any objects carrying nuclear weapons or any other kinds of weapons of mass destruction, install such weapons on celestial bodies, or station such weapons in outer space in any other manner. Both sides affirmed that placement of nuclear weapons in outer space in violation of the Outer Space Treaty would gravely threaten global security.
- On national security, both sides noted the strong alignment between Japanese and U.S. strategic interests and values, and between both sides’ respective national security strategies. Both sides committed to leveraging bilateral space cooperation to support those strategies’ implementation.
- On commercial space, both sides discussed regulatory frameworks and opportunities for increased collaboration between our space industries, and welcomed the participation of 39 Japanese and U.S. companies in a government-industry discussion on these issues. Given the increasing importance and expanding role of the private sector in exploring outer space, including to both countries’ national security, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening linkages between their respective space industries.
- Both sides noted strong, successful Japan-U.S. cooperation in civil space activities, which continues to grow. The discussion included the Artemis program, including the historic implementing arrangement for human spaceflight cooperation on the Moon, cooperation on the Gateway lunar orbit platform and low Earth orbit (LEO) human activities, including continuing cooperation on the International Space Station (ISS). The two sides reaffirmed their desire to maintain robust dialogue with both government and industry regarding future cooperation on Commercial LEO Destinations (CLDs).
- Both sides also discussed enhancing space cooperation with regional allies and partners, such as trilateral cooperation with the Republic of Korea, cooperation through the Quad, and cooperation in regional fora, such as the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF).
- Both sides concurred on holding the Tenth Meeting of the Dialogue in Japan in 2025.
(Reference)The Japan-U.S. Comprehensive Dialogue on Space
The First Meeting was held in Tokyo in March 2013 as a framework for a comprehensive exchange of views on space cooperation between Japan and the United States. The last meeting (the Eighth Meeting) was held in Tokyo in March 2023.