Newsletter No. 1384
News-Analysis
June 20, 2009

 

RULING COALITION FORCES PASSAGE OF ANTI-PIRACY BILL

The LDP-New Komeito coalition has once again used its Koizumi-era lower-house supermajority to force passage of a controversial security policy bill. Yesterday, as expected, the House of Representatives overrode the House of Councillors with a vote along party lines. As we discussed previously, the main opposition DPJ was probably willing to offer support for the anti-piracy bill under certain conditions -- namely that the Diet must specifically authorize each military deployment -- but compromise is no longer the strong suit of the ideological conservatives now running the LDP.

The silver lining is that it is highly unlikely that the LDP will enjoy the privilege of utilizing their newfound powers for very long. Somehow, they don’t seem to be preparing at all for the likelihood that they themselves may be an opposition party pretty soon. Foresight, you see, is also not one of their strong suits.

Reactions to the forcible passage of the anti-piracy bill are various.

Motofumi Asai, president of the Hiroshima Peace Institute, is a critic: “The dispatch of the SDF is being accepted too easily, in the name of international cooperation… The core issue with sending the SDF overseas didn’t receive much attention in the Diet.”

Tadasu Kumagai, a military analyst and former ASDF officer, on the other hand, is appreciative: “At last, with this law, those forces off Somalia can concentrate on what they were sent there to do.”

During the House of Councillors debate, Prime Minister Taro Aso once again gave an exaggerated account of the “threat” offered by Somali pirates: “We believe piracy off Somalia is a life-or-death issue that threatens Japan’s interests, which are to secure the safety of marine transport.”

SDP lawmaker Tokushin Yamauchi countered that violent measures against Somali pirates would be “an act that would attack the core of the Constitution, which prohibits the use of force abroad and the dispatch of the military in the name of national interests.” JCP lawmaker Satoshi Inoue explained the origins of Somali piracy and asserted that the real solution to the problem was to eliminate poverty in the region.

Statement by Prime Minister Taro Aso on the Enactment of the Law on the Penalization of Acts of Piracy and Measures against Acts of Piracy
June 19, 2009

Today, the Law on the Penalization of Acts of Piracy and Measures against Acts of Piracy was enacted. Under this law, Japan will be able to protect not only Japanese-related vessels from acts of piracy but also vessels of other countries. The law criminalizes acts of piracy under the Japanese legal system; thereby Japan will be able to take more effective and appropriate measures against acts of piracy in cooperation with all countries concerned.

Japan is surrounded by the sea. International trade is extremely important for Japan, since for example it depends on imports for large proportions of its supply of most major kinds of resources. Ensuring the safety of maritime navigation is therefore of vital importance for the economy and society of Japan and the daily lives of its people. In such circumstances, the high incidence and rapid increase of acts of piracy at sea seen recently off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden constitute a threat not only to Japan but also to the international community. This is a challenge to which Japan must respond actively so as to discharge its responsibility as a member of international community.

In order to counter the pirates, in March the Japanese government issued instructions to conduct maritime police operations and dispatched two destroyers with officials of the Japan Coast Guard aboard [as well as those of the Maritime Self Defense Forces] to waters off the coast of Somalia and the Gulf of Aden. Thus far, a total of 87 Japanese-related vessels have been escorted in 28 operations. In addition, two P-3C maritime patrol aircraft have started operations from this month and have so far conducted four flight missions.

These operations are producing steady results. Since the destroyers started their operations, there has not been a single Japanese-related vessel under escort which was attacked by pirates. There have been numerous expressions of gratitude from the captains of the escorted vessels.

We should not forget that these results are due to the unfailing efforts by the Self -Defense Forces personnel and Coast Guard officials who are taking part, amidst the harsh climate and tense conditions, in the highly important mission of ensuring the safety of maritime navigation. I am proud of these personnel and express my respect and gratitude to them and their families.

A series of United Nations Security Council resolutions, including resolution 1816 call for countries to dispatch naval vessels and take other such measures in order to counter the pirates off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden. In response, many countries and organizations from Europe, North America and Asia have dispatched naval vessels and have taken other such action, as a result of which international anti-piracy operations have already begun.

The Japanese government shall start implementing anti-piracy operations based on the new law as soon as possible, so as to ensure public safety and order on the seas in corporation with the international community.

In closing, I sincerely request the public's continued understanding and support.

Statement by Mr. Hirofumi Nakasone, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on Passage of the Law on the Penalization of Acts of Piracy and Measures against Acts of Piracy
June 19, 2009

1. The recent sharp increase as well as recurrence of acts of piracy off the coast of Somalia and the Gulf of Aden poses a significant threat not only to Japan, but also to the international community.

The Law on the Penalization of Acts of Piracy and Measures against Acts of Piracy has been passed today. As a maritime state and trading nation, the maintenance of safe and orderly maritime navigation is extremely important to Japan in order to protect the lives and property of its citizens.

In addition to escort missions of two destroyers dispatched to protect ships and vessels affiliated with Japan (28 missions involving 87 vessels have been enacted as of the present time), beginning mid-June, two P-3C maritime patrol aircraft have also been deployed. Under the new law, escort missions are no longer limited to Japanese-related vessels, but may now be conducted in order to protect vessels of other countries. Punishment of acts of piracy is also now possible. In light of the continuation of escort missions and other activities conducted by the JSDF, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will also make all possible efforts in the coordination and collaboration between countries concerned.

2. For the ultimate solution of the piracy issue off the cost of Somalia, a multilayered mid-term approach is essential. This approach would involve the advancement of maritime law-enforcement capabilities of coastal countries, regional cooperation, and the stabilization of Somalia’s volatile situation that has led to an increase in incidents of piracy.

Understanding the need for these types of measures, Japan has been providing assistance, such as the training of maritime security authority personnel as well as humanitarian aid and support designed to improve order and security with the goal of stabilizing the volatile situation in Somalia. Japan hopes to continue cooperating with the international community in providing such assistance.

3. The issue of piracy off the coast of Somalia requires a coordinated approach by the international community. Japan will continue to take proactive anti-piracy initiatives while maintaining a collaborative relationship with the international community.