Japan's Official Development Assistance White Paper 2005
Next PageMain Text > Part II ODA DISBURSEMENTS IN FISCAL YEAR 2004 > Chapter 2 Details and New Policies about Japan's ODA: Striving for Further ODA Reforms > Section 2. Measures for Each of the Priority Issues > 3. Addressing Global Issues > (7) Terrorism
(7) Terrorism
Terrorism is carried out beyond national borders and is a major global issue that directly affects not only the developing countries but the entire international community including the developed countries. In recent years, terrorist attacks have taken place frequently across the world, and the threat of international terrorism remains serious. Japan has actively participated in counter-terrorism efforts for the international community, recognizing that it is important for the international community to unite in its fight against international terrorism and to sustain a long-term approach to this end in a wide range of fields. Particularly from the viewpoint of denying terrorists the means to commit terrorist acts or to seek safe heaven and of overcoming the vulnerability to terrorist attacks, emphasis is placed on providing assistance to developing countries in order to enhance their counter-terrorism capabilities in such areas as immigration control, transportation security, and combating financing of terrorism. Moreover, frequent terrorist attacks would seriously influence on the economic activities of a country through damage to foreign direct investments, tourism, trade, etc. It is thus an important prerequisite to development that developing countries themselves enhance counter-terrorism measures and prevent terrorism. Utilizing ODA for such ends will also directly benefit developing countries for their efforts toward development.
Notably, Japan focuses its assistance on the Southeast Asian region where Japan has a lot of interests and keeps close ties in terms of politics, economy, and society, since preventing terrorism and ensuring safety and security there is important for Japan's prosperity as well. Specifically, Japan held seminars and accepted trainees in the area of immigration control, aviation security, port and maritime security, customs cooperation, export control, law enforcement cooperation, combating terrorist financing, counter-CBRN (chemical, biological, radioactive, and nuclear) terrorism, anti-terrorism treaties, etc. In FY2004, Japan accepted approximately 230 trainees. In July 2004, Japan held the "Seminar on Prevention and Crisis Management on Chemical Terrorism" at the Southeast Asia Regional Centre for Counter-Terrorism ( SEARCCT ) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, inviting the Southeast Asian countries. This was held as a follow up to the seminar held in Tokyo in 2003, and in response to Prime Minister Koizumi's announcement at the APEC summit in October 2002 to carry out an initiative to improve crisis management capabilities regarding terrorism over a five-year period beginning in FY2003. Furthermore, in response to the terrorist attack in Bali, Indonesia, Japan decided in May 2004 to provide ¥747 million in grant aid for strengthening aviation and port security in Indonesia, including provision of x-ray machines, metal detectors, and port security cameras, among other measures, as a part of Indonesia's counter-terrorist measures, and has implemented the assistance. Japan intends to continue to actively provide cooperation in this field.