PSI Maritime Interdiction Exercise "Pacific Shield 07"
Hosted by the Government of Japan
(Overview and Evaluation)

October 18, 2007

1. Exercise Outline and Schedule

(1) Exercise Schedule and Venue

a) Schedule:

Oct 13 (Sat) - 15 (Mon)
(Related events also took place on Oct 10 and 12.)

b) Venue:

Waters East of Oshima Island (Oct 13), Yokosuka Port (Oct 14), Yokohama Port (Oct 15)

(2) Exercise Participants

a) Japan:

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), National Police Agency (NPA),
• Ministry of Finance (MOF) / Japan Customs, Japan Coast Guard (JCG),
• Ministry of Defense (MOD) / Japan Self Defense Forces (JSDFs)

b) Countries Participating with Assets:

• Australia, France, New Zealand, Singapore, the United Kingdom, the United States

(3) Observers (in addition to the asset dispatching countries above.)

Asia and Oceania: Brunei, India, Laos, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Vietnam, North America: Canada, Central and South America: Brazil, Chile, El Salvador, Panama, Middle East: Bahrain, Israel, Jordan, Oman, Qatar, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Europe and Others Regions: Denmark, Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Ukraine

Total (Asset Dispatching Countries plus Observers): 40 Countries

2. Welcome Reception Hosted by Mr. Hitoshi Kimura, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs (Oct 12)

(1) Participants:

guests from asset dispatching/observer countries, members of the Japanese Diet, Japanese Government officials, guests from Yokosuka City and Yokohama City, guests from Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology (who provided a target vessel.)

Total: approx 200 guests

(2) Remarks by Mr. Hitoshi Kimura, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs

Senior Vice-Foreign Minister Kimura expressed his view that the international community would demonstrate the strong will and determination to tackle proliferation through this Exercise. He also stated that the Exercise would contribute to deepen the understanding of the goal and activities of the PSI as well as to promote cooperation among countries and related agencies.

3. Outline of the Exercises (Day 1 to Day 3)

(1) Day 1 (Oct 13): Search, Detection, Tracking / Boarding

a) Venue:

Waters East of Oshima Island (on board)

b) Participants

Japan: JSDF vessels / aircrafts / boarding team
International Participants: Australia, France, UK and US (vessels and boarding teams: UK also dispatched a helicopter), Singapore (boarding team), New Zealand (aircraft)

c) Description:

Each country took turn to demonstrate a sequence of actions (search/detection/tracking), followed by boarding.

(2) Day 2 (Oct 14): Boarding Inspection

a) Venue:

Yokosuka Shinko Port

b) Participants

Japan: JSDF (JMSDF boarding team)
International Participants: Australia, France, Singapore, UK and US (boarding teams)

c) Description:

Each country took turn to undertake boarding inspection (boarding -> on-board search -> detect suspect material) to the target vessel moored to the pier of the port (assumed to be on the sea).

(3) Day 3 (Oct 15): Port Inspection

a) Venue:

Yokohama Port (O-sanbashi Terminal)

b) Participants

Japan: NPA (inspection team, patrol craft, NBC Terrorism Investigative Unit), MOF/Japan Customs (inspection team, X-ray inspection equipment), JCG (patrol craft, inspection team), JSDF (JGSDF 101 NBC Protection Unit, Central Readiness Force (CRF))
International Participants: Australia (Customs Service Enforcement Operations), Singapore (Armed Forces CBRE Defense Group), US (Customs and Boarder Protection, DHS)

c) Description:

Each country demonstrated a sequence of inspection measures at the port (on-board inspection, inspection of the cargo, decontamination etc.).

d) Setting for the Japan Exercise (Police/Customs/Coast Guard)

The Government of Japan learnt that sodium cyanide, which can be used for development of nerve agent, may be transshipped at Yokohama Port onto a vessel destined to a country of proliferation concern. The related Ministries/Agencies conducted joint inspection of the suspect cargo at the port. As a result of inspection, the team detected and seized sodium cyanide.

4. Public Event: Navy Ships Tours (Oct 14)

On the occasion of Pacific Shield 07, HMAS Perth, FS Vendemiaire and HMS Monmouth, together with the JMSDF Makinami, were opened for public tours and approximately 1,200 visitors came to the event. The Navy Ships Tours contributed to promote international exchanges at grass-root level and increase the understating of the public about the activities of the PSI.

5. Overall Evaluation

(1) Expression of Strong Will and Determination of Counter-Proliferation

Holding the second* PSI Exercise in Japan demonstrated the will and determination of Japan as well as the international community to tackle the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and related materials. The whole Exercise program was open to observers and media, and was useful for promoting the understanding about the goals and activities of the PSI.

*Japan hosted its first PSI Maritime Interdiction Exercise "Team Samurai 04" in October 2004.

(2) Variety of Activities by Participants, Strengthening Coordination between Related Agencies

Pacific Shield 07 adopted "capability demonstration" approach, in which all asset dispatching countries were provided with sufficient time and opportunities for practical exercise and opportunities to witness what other countries would do. This approach was useful for mutual understanding and exchange between related agencies from participating/observer countries, and contributed to further promotion of the effectiveness of counter-proliferation measures.

In addition to the search, detection, tracking and boarding inspection exercises, which also took place in Team Samurai 04, the port inspection exercise was conducted for the first time in the exercise hosted by Japan. As for Japan's law-enforcement exercise, the coordination between the Police, the Customs and the Coast Guard was strengthened through the Exercise. Also, 101 NBC Protection Unit of the JGSDF conducted exercise regarding decontamination.

(3) Active Participation by a Wider Range of Countries

New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom participated for the first time in Japan-hosted PSI exercise with their assets. Also, observers from a wide range of countries, including countries in Asia-Oceania and Middle-East, as well as non PSI supporting countries, participated in Pacific Shield 07. The number of countries increased significantly compared to Team Samurai 04*.

Observers from those countries had active exchanges with other participants/observers during the 3-day Exercise and related events, and deepened their understanding about the PSI, the importance of counter-proliferation efforts and the related policies of other countries.

* Team Samurai 04 were participated by 21 countries, including 3 asset dispatching countries (Australia, France and the US).

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