2 Strengthening Foreign Policy Implementation Structure

While the security environment surrounding Japan has become increasingly severe and diplomatic challenges are diversifying, including nuclear tests and missile launches by North Korea, it is vital to further expand Japan's foreign policy implementation structure. With this in mind, MOFA is enhancing the organizational and personnel structures of overseas diplomatic missions such as Embassies and Consulates General, and the Ministry.

Diplomatic missions overseas, such as Embassies and Consulates General, not only represent Japan but also play a key role in areas such as information gathering on the frontline of diplomacy, strategic communication to the public overseas, promotion of diplomatic relations, and international contribution. At the same time, diplomatic missions overseas are also responsible for operations directly related to the improvement of benefits for Japanese nationals, such as protecting their lives and safety, providing support for Japanese companies, promoting investment and tourism, and securing energy and other resources.

In January 2018, Japan established an Embassy in Cyprus, a Consulate-General in Recife (Brazil), and a Mission of Japan to the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia). As of FY2017, the number of the diplomatic missions overseas is 223 (150 Embassies, 64 Consulates General and nine Permanent Missions).

Amidst the destabilization of the Middle East in recent years, Cyprus, an EU member state that is close to the Middle East, is gaining geopolitical significance. In addition to further developing a friendly relationship between Japan and Cyprus, it is important to enhance timely information gathering and to strengthen coordination with local authorities as Cyprus may serve as a destination for evacuation in the case of an emergency in the Middle East or North Africa.

Recife in Northeast Brazil has been gaining importance in the Brazilian economy. Moreover, Recife is home to approximately 180,000 Japanese immigrants and descendants (“Nikkei”), and is an important region for strengthening ties with the Nikkei community, to which Japan attaches importance.

The Mission of Japan to the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) serves an important role in strengthening relations with the African Union Commission (AUC), the executive organ of the AU, and also with the respective African countries to further promote support for the development of Africa through the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) and efforts regarding important policy issues such as UN Security Council reform.

In order to strengthen the foreign policy implementation structure in a sustainable manner, the following diplomatic missions will be established in FY2018: an Embassy in Belarus, a Consulate-General in Davao in the Philippines, a Delegation of Japan to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Montreal, Canada, and a Mission of Japan to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Belgium.

Belarus occupies a position of geopolitical and economic importance as a country bordering the EU and Russia, which provided its capital of Minsk as a location for peace negotiation for resolving the Ukraine issues. Moreover, given that it was the country most damaged by the Chernobyl Nuclear Accident, Japan has concluded the agreement on cooperation to advance aftermath response to accidents at nuclear power stations with Belarus following the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. The two countries work together as valuable partners in sharing knowledge in the field.

Davao (the Philippines) is the home town of President Duterte (former mayor of Davao), which is gaining political significance as the president goes back and forth between Davao and Manila while serving his term in office. As there is a growing trend of Japanese companies and Japanese nationals residing in the city, the need to support Japanese businesses and protect Japanese nationals is increasing. Meanwhile, due to the unstable factor of terrorist attacks carried out by Islamic extremists, initiatives aimed at ensuring the safety of Japanese nationals is crucial.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is a specialized organization under the United Nations involved in ensuring the formulation and implementation of rules concerning international civil aviation, and is closely associated with aviation diplomacy and security assurance. As events that greatly impact the security assurance of Japan as well as civil aviation have occurred, including repeated ballistic missile launches by North Korea and the designation of an air defense identification zone by the Chinese Government, Japan collects information via ICAO, while working collaboratively with other Member States such as the U.S. and Republic of Korea in urging ICAO to take appropriate measures.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is engaged in addressing urgent issues concerning the peace and stability of the international community as well as conducting activities to ensure stability outside of the region. NATO and Japan share common security challenges such as cyber issues and terrorism. Japan has been conducting practical cooperation with NATO based on the Individual Partnership and Cooperation Programme (IPCP) signed by Prime Minister Abe upon his visit to NATO's headquarters in May 2014. The establishment of a Mission to NATO will contribute to the cooperative relationship, which is important in strengthening the alliance network among Japan, the U.S. and European countries, as well as maintaining order in the international community as a whole and contributing to peace and stability.

In addition to the establishment of more diplomatic missions overseas, it is important to secure and increase the number of staff members to support diplomacy at MOFA and diplomatic missions overseas. Under the Government's policy to reduce the overall personnel expenses across all ministries in light of the current severe budget situation, the number of staff members at MOFA amounted to 6,065 in order to bolster safety measures for Japanese nationals overseas, strengthen the functions for gathering terror-related information, further expand the “Proactive Contribution to Peace” initiative based on the principle of international cooperation, promote economic diplomacy, support the overseas activities of Japanese nationals, as well as promote strategic communications. This number is, however, still insufficient when compared to that of other major countries. MOFA continues its efforts to build a structure suitable for Japan's national power and diplomatic policy. In the meantime, based on the understanding that enhancing the foreign policy implementation structure remains necessary in FY2018, MOFA plans to increase its staff members by 90 persons in order to address important issues such as bolstering safety measures and strengthening capabilities of information gathering and analysis, vitalizing economy including infrastructure exports, further bolstering strategic communications, and responding to global challenges.

MOFA appropriated a budget of 692.6 billion yen in the budget for FY2017 (a decrease of 1.0% from FY2016 (excluding expenses on special factors)) to enhance the foreign policy implementation structure for the above-mentioned activities and to take on an even more proactive role in diplomacy as a leader in international initiatives and discussions. The total amount of MOFA's FY2017 supplementary budget was 155.4 billion yen for matters of an urgent nature such as responses to issues related to North Korea, assistance on global issues including epidemic diseases, humanitarian, counter-terrorism or social stabilization assistance including refugee issues. MOFA's FY2018 initial government budget proposal appropriated 696.7 billion yen in order to strengthen the foreign policy implementation structure to undertake such issues and further expand official development assistance (ODA) that contributes to the national interest by identifying the following priorities: (1) dealing with an increasingly opaque international situation and implementing strategic foreign policy (2) protecting Japanese nationals abroad and Japan from threats such as terrorism, (3) strongly supporting Japanese economy through diplomacy, and (4) maintaining and strengthening strategic communications.

In order to promote Japan's national interests, it is essential to strengthen the foreign policy implementation structure. Japan will continue to proceed strategically with enhancements, while making efforts to streamline operations, to further expand the foreign policy implementation structure.