Press Releases

PSI Maritime Interdiction Exercise "Pacific Shield 25" and Operational Experts Group (OEG) Meeting (Results)

December 5, 2025
Japanese

From December 2 to 5, Japan hosted the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) Maritime Interdiction Exercise “Pacific Shield 25” and the Operational Experts Group (OEG) meeting. The overview is as follows:

1. Overview of the Entire Exercise

  1. Schedule and Location
    Schedule: December 2-5, 2025 (PSI Maritime Interdiction Exercise "Pacific Shield 25": December 2–4; Operational Experts Group (OEG): December 5)
    Location: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Odaiba, and off the coast of the Boso Peninsula
  2. Training Participants and Organization
    Japan: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, National Police Agency, Ministry of Finance/Customs, Japan Coast Guard, Ministry of Defense/Self-Defense Forces, etc.
    Participating Countries: Australia, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, the United States (the Asia-Pacific Exercise Rotation (APER) states)
  3. Observer Countries (Total: 20 countries)
    • Operation Expert Group (OEG) Participating Countries (12 countries)
      Argentina, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, the Republic of Türkiye, the United Kingdom
    • Asia-Pacific Countries Participating in PSI (6 countries)
      Brunei, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, Malaysia, Vietnam
    • Asia-Pacific Countries Not Participating in PSI (2 countries)
      Laos, Nauru
    • Organization (1 organization)
      The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs
  4. Background
    At the 2013 PSI High-Level Political Meeting, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, and the United States agreed to host PSI training exercises on a rotating basis within the Asia-Pacific region (Asia-Pacific Exercise Rotation (APER)) annually. Japan has hosted the following exercises to date: the maritime interdiction exercise "Team Samurai 04" in October 2004, the maritime interdiction exercise "Pacific Shield 07" in October 2007, the aviation interdiction exercise "Pacific Shield 12" in July 2012, and the maritime interdiction exercise "Pacific Shield 18" in July 2018. The recent PSI maritime interdiction exercise "Pacific Shield 25" marked Japan's fifth time hosting the exercise.
  5. Purpose
    • Enhancing the proliferation prevention capabilities and strengthening cooperation among Japan and other Asia-Pacific nations regarding weapons of mass destruction, etc.
    • o increase understanding of PSI initiatives
    • Outreach to non-PSI participating countries
  6. Asia-Pacific Exercise Rotation (APER) Joint Statement
    Following the exercise, the six APER nations (Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, and the United States) issued a joint statement.

2. Welcome Reception Hosted by Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan (December 2)

Welcome remarks by Mr. ONISHI Youhei, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan
Welcome reception
  1. Location:
    Tokyo
  2. Participants:
    Representatives from participating nations and observer nations, Japanese government officials including those from participating ministries and agencies.
  3. Content:
    In his welcoming remarks, Mr. ONISHI Youhei, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, stated that he hoped this training would advance the objectives of the PSI by enhancing capabilities and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, raising participants' awareness, and demonstrating our strong commitment. He also expressed Japan's intention to continue cooperating with PSI partners, with relevant ministries and agencies working together, to further promote international peace and security.

3. Academic Session (December 2)

Welcome remarks by Ambassador Dr. NAKAMURA Kimitake, Director-General, Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and Science Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
  1. Venue:
    Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
  2. Participating Agencies
    Japan: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, National Police Agency, Ministry of Finance/Customs, Japan Coast Guard, Ministry of Defense/Self-Defense Forces, etc. Others: Relevant agencies from various countries
  3. Content:
    Presentations on PSI and non-proliferation were conducted by participating countries.

Heads of delegation

4. Table-top Exercise (December 2)

Tabletop exercise
  1. Location:
    Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
  2. Participating Agencies
    Japan: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, National Police Agency, Ministry of Finance/Customs, Japan Coast Guard, Ministry of Defense/Self-Defense Forces, etc.
    Others: Relevant agencies from various countries
  3. Content:
    A tabletop exercise was conducted based on a hypothetical scenario involving the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction-related materials. This verified domestic decision-making processes and approaches to multilateral cooperation when implementing countermeasures.

5. Live Exercise (December 3)

Detection training
Pursuit training
  1. Location:
    Off the coast of the Boso Peninsula
  2. Participating Agencies
    Japan: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Ministry of Defense/Self-Defense Forces (Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force P-1 patrol aircraft, destroyer “Mogami” and boarding team)
    Others: Australia (Australian Defence Force boarding team), the Republic of Korea (Republic of Korea Navy/Coast Guard boarding team), the United States (U.S. Navy destroyer USS “Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee” and U.S. Navy/Coast Guard boarding team)
  3. Content:
    Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force P-1 patrol aircraft, the destroyer “Mogami” and boarding team, Australian Defence Force boarding team, Republic of Korea Navy/Coast Guard boarding team, U.S. Navy destroyer USS “Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee” and Navy/Coast Guard boarding team cooperated in simulating the detection, pursuit, and boarding of a suspected vessel carrying WMD-related materials, and conducted boarding exercises.
Boarding training

6. Port Exercise (December 3)

Joint team conducting boarding inspection
Container inspection using Customs X-ray inspection vehicle
  1. Location:
    Odaiba, Tokyo
  2. Participating Agencies
    Japan: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, National Police Agency, Ministry of Finance/Customs, Japan Coast Guard
    Others (Observers): Representatives from participating countries and observer countries
  3. Content:
    Under the scenario that a cargo ship potentially carrying cargo linked to an organization planning terrorist activities around Japan was entering a Japanese port, a joint team of police, customs, and the Japan Coast Guard conducted a boarding inspection of the vessel. Customs identified a substance capable of being diverted for chemical weapons use, and the police NBC counter-terrorism squad carried out recovery and decontamination operations. Exercise was conducted covering this entire sequence of actions.
Inside-container inspection using Customs explosive detection dog
Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department conducting preliminary inspection of suspect substances

7. Operational Experts Group (OEG) Meeting (December 5)

  1. Location:
    Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
  2. Participating Agencies
    Japan: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
    Others: Representatives from 18 countries (Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Spain, the Republic of Türkiye, the United Kingdom, the United States)
  3. Content
    A wide-ranging discussion was held on the future direction of PSI activities.

(Reference) APER Joint Statement - Exercise Pacific Shield 2025 (PDF) Open a New Window

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