Japan's Official Development Assistance White Paper 2007
Next PageMain Text > Part II ODA DISBURSEMENTS IN FISCAL YEAR 2005 > Chapter 2 Details about Japan's ODA > Section 2. Measures for Each of the Priority Issues > 3. Addressing Global Issues > (7) Terrorism and Piracy
(7) Terrorism and Piracy
A. Terrorism
<Current Status>
Terrorism occurs beyond national borders and is a major global issue that directly affects not only developing countries, but the entire international community including developed countries. As can be seen in terrorist attacks that take place frequently across the world, the threat of international terrorism remains serious. Furthermore, the types of terrorists and their methods are diversifying, making it even more necessary to enhance international cooperation for counter-terrorism activities.
The frequent occurrence of terrorism has a major impact on the economic activity of the affected country on tourism, foreign direct investment, trade, and other areas. For this reason, enhancing counter-terrorism measures and preventing terrorism is an important prerequisite for the development of developing countries.
<Japan's Efforts>
Japan has actively participated in counter-terrorism activities in 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 in a wide range of fields. Particularly from the viewpoint of depriving terrorists of the means to commit terrorist acts or to seek safe haven and overcoming the vulnerability to terrorist attacks, Japan places emphasis on capacity building assistance in areas such as immigration control, transportation security, and combating terrorist financing.
In particular, Japan focuses its assistance on preventing terrorism and ensuring safety and stability in the Southeast Asian region, which has close ties with Japan in terms of politics, economy, and society, and is thus important for Japan's prosperity as well. Specifically, for example, Japan has been holding seminars and accepting trainees in the areas of immigration control, aviation security, port and maritime security, customs cooperation, export control, law enforcement cooperation, combating terrorist financing, counter-CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear) terrorism,68 counter-terrorism conventions and protocols and others.
In addition to its existing schemes, Japan created Grant Aid for Cooperation on Counter-Terrorism and Security Enhancement in FY2006 and is resolved to support cooperation with developing countries on counter-terrorism.
In September 2006, Japan held a seminar on investigating international terrorism cases. This seminar invited officials in charge of international terrorism countermeasures from various countries in Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and other regions. It was initiated with the goal of transferring Japanese technology for investigations and countermeasures related to international terrorism cases, thereby contributing to international cooperation for international terrorism countermeasures. With the joint sponsorship of JICA, a total of 171 people from 130 countries to date have been invited to the seminar.
In July 2007, Japan held the Seminar on Prevention and Crisis Management of Chemical and Biological Terrorism in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, inviting various countries mainly from the Southeast Asian region. This was the fifth seminar held as a follow-up to the ones held in Tokyo in 2003 and 2006 and in Malaysia in 2004 and 2005. It came in response to the then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's announcement at the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Leaders Meeting 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 the immigration control sector, Japan has held the Seminar on Immigration Control annually since 1987. The purpose of this seminar is to strengthen partnership with the immigration control authorities of various countries, in particular Southeast Asia region to improve capacities of immigration personnel and promote the accurate and smooth operation of immigration administration in each country. In 2006, the seminar was carried out under the theme of the current status, problems, and measures to prevent the entry of illegal immigrants, that were international terrorists and criminals, as well as to assuredly deport persons denied entry with the cooperation of airlines. Through the seminar, Japan promotes international cooperation in building immigration control counter-terrorism capacity in the participating countries. Furthermore, the participating countries and regions have recognized that the seminar is extremely beneficial for the administration of immigration control in Southeast Asian and other countries.
Project for Contingency Exercises on Airport Security
In FY2004 Japan provided airport security inspection equipment to Indonesia through grant aid. As a follow-up centered around the airports to which equipment was provided, the Study on Major Airports Security System Enforcement Plan in Indonesia was conducted in FY2005.
As a result of this study, it was found that training for responding to emergency cases had not been adequately carried out for the airports. Therefore, in FY2006 Japan provided guidance for, and assessments of, this training for responding to emergency cases, put together proposals on the emergency training programs of Bali and Denpasar international airports, and held lectures on the importance of periodic training for responding to cases. Through these, Japan has resolved to help Indonesia to further improve its airport security measures. The training was conducted through a simulation in which the threat level was raised to its highest point due to the capture of extremists who had planted explosives, and the police special operations unit would dispose of the explosives.
The expectation for the future is that this will be effectively expanded to other airports in the country through guidance and reviews of this training under the leadership of Indonesia's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The maintenance and development of independent initiatives for improving airport security measures are also anticipated.
On-site task force for training (Photo: MLIT)
Police special operations unit disposing of explosives (Photo: MLIT)
In FY2004 Japan provided airport security inspection equipment to Indonesia through grant aid. As a follow-up centered around the airports to which equipment was provided, the Study on Major Airports Security System Enforcement Plan in Indonesia was conducted in FY2005.
As a result of this study, it was found that training for responding to emergency cases had not been adequately carried out for the airports. Therefore, in FY2006 Japan provided guidance for, and assessments of, this training for responding to emergency cases, put together proposals on the emergency training programs of Bali and Denpasar international airports, and held lectures on the importance of periodic training for responding to cases. Through these, Japan has resolved to help Indonesia to further improve its airport security measures. The training was conducted through a simulation in which the threat level was raised to its highest point due to the capture of extremists who had planted explosives, and the police special operations unit would dispose of the explosives.
The expectation for the future is that this will be effectively expanded to other airports in the country through guidance and reviews of this training under the leadership of Indonesia's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The maintenance and development of independent initiatives for improving airport security measures are also anticipated.
On-site task force for training (Photo: MLIT)
Police special operations unit disposing of explosives (Photo: MLIT)
B. Piracy
<Current Status>
Since Japan is largely dependent on maritime transport for the import of oil, minerals and other energy resources it needs, acts of piracy that threaten maritime safety is an issue directly related to the peace and stability of Japan itself.
In particular, in the Southeast Asian region, where the majority of Japan's oil and other energy resources pass, many acts of piracy have been witnessed in recent years, as exemplified by the attack on a Japanese ship and its crew in the Strait of Malacca in March 2005, posing a direct threat to the safety of Japanese nationals involved in maritime transport and to Japanese economic activity. In order to prevent acts of piracy and maritime terrorism, Japan has been working on improving the law enforcement capacity of littoral states, enhancing information sharing, developing human resources, and other security measures. Furthermore, negotiations for the creation of the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) were conducted under the principle leadership of Japan, and the agreement entered into force in September 2006. This agreement is to serve as a legal framework for facilitating regional cooperation in order to effectively respond to the piracy problem in Asia. Moreover, Japan has dispatched two staff members to the Information Sharing Centre (ISC), which was established in Singapore based on the agreement.
<Japan's Efforts>
Since July 2002, Japan has implemented the Project on Philippine Coast Guard Human Resource Development with the objective of improving the operational capacity of the Philippine Coast Guard, and has contributed to various capacity building activities including in the area of maritime law enforcement. In October 2006 Japan implemented the Maritime Law Enforcement Training in the East Asian Region, under which it provided training to the employees of coast guards in Asian countries. The Government also dispatched experts to Indonesia, Malaysia, and other littoral countries of the Strait of Malacca with a view to improving their maritime law enforcement capacity. In addition, a trilateral drill to combat piracy was carried out in September between the maritime safety authorities of Malaysia, Thailand, and Japan. Moreover, for the purpose of port security, in February 2007 an ASEAN joint exercise on the communication of port security was conducted based on the scenario that a terrorist attack had occurred in Indonesia. This exercise was carried out by the transport ministries of Japan and nine ASEAN countries, port security personnel, and other related organizations, with 26 ports taking part. Furthermore, in order to strengthen Indonesia's capacity in maritime security in the Strait of Malacca, the Government decided to provide three patrol vessels to Indonesia under the Grant Aid for Cooperation on Counter-Terrorism and Security Enhancement in June 2006.