The cooperation between the United Sates and Japan

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The cooperation between the United Sates and
Japan on our respective Defense Exchanges with
other countries to improve the international
security environment By Col. Tadashi TABUCHI,
Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Visiting Fellow,
Henry L. Stimson Center 13th November, 2007
As a disclaimer, the contents of this briefing
are my personal opinions and are not
representative ideas or positions of the Japanese
government or the Japan Ministry of Defense.
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JGSDF Chief of Staff Tsutomu Mori visited
Vietnam in 2007
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The cooperation between the United Sates and
Japan on our respective Defense Exchanges with
other countries to improve the international
security environment
1. Defense Exchanges of Japan
2. Defense Exchanges of the U.S.
3. Necessity of the Cooperation between the U.S.
and Japan
4. Measures to Cooperate between the U.S. and
Japan
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1. Defense Exchanges of Japan
(1) Overview
a. Traditional Concepts
During the Cold War
the U.S.-Japan bilateral exchanges
Japan-Russia
After the Cold War
the U.S.-Japan bilateral exchanges
Confidence-building
National Defense Program Guidelines (2004)

One of the major roles to be played by defense
capability Proactive efforts, on its
own initiative, to
improve the international security environment
JMOD has been trying to redouble its effort
to improve the security
environment
by deepening and widening defense exchanges.
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Republic of Korea, Russia, China,
Australia, U.K., India, Southeast Asian
countries, ARF, European countries, NATO, etc.
Counterparts of Defense Exchanges of Japan
Types of Present Defense Exchanges of Japan
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1) In recent years, Japans defense exchanges,
considering changes in international situations
and other changes, have come to place a greater
emphasis on establishing and strengthening
cooperative relations with the global community.
2) It also has expanded defense exchanges that
go beyond Japans neighboring countries. 3)
Furthermore, Japans defense exchanges have come
to place greater importance on practical
exchanges, making them more action-based
exchanges.
Multilateral Search and Rescue Exercises
Cobra Gold Exercise
JMOD hosted multilateral forums on disaster
relief operations
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b. New Concepts
Basic Policy for Defense Exchanges (April 2007)
Aims of defense exchanges
Confidence-building Dealing with
security issues.
JMOD hosted multilateral forums on disaster
relief operations
Directions of defense exchanges hereafter 1)
Conduct defense exchanges for direct contribution
to strengthen international cooperation
- Dialogue for sharing awareness of
security issues and cooperation on
defense policy, - Bilateral and
multilateral exercises connected with
international peace cooperation
activities of JSDF 2) Utilize a variety of
defense-exchange means - Mutual
visits of troops and sending officers to
exercises as observers, -
Sponsoring and participating in seminars,
- Offering knowledge and skills of the JSDF
on disaster relief activities
One of the consideration for conducting defense
exchanges The cooperation with the U.S. as
necessary in the case of promoting defense
exchanges of Japan and under taking account of
the U.S. policy
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(2) Sections in Charge of Defense Exchanges
Japan Ministry of Defense
(in Bureau of Defense Policy)
(in Defense Plans and Policy Department)
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2. Defense Exchanges of the U.S.
(1) Overview
1) Defense cooperation
2) Confidence building measures
Cooperation between the U.S. and allies and
friendly nations.
Building relations of mutual confidence with
maybe China, Russia, etc.
The U.S.-China
The U.S.-Russia
The U.S.-Philippines
The U.S.-Japan
3) Security assistance
Support to the foreign countries to improve its
security environment.
The U.S.-Vietnam
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(2) Sections in Charge of Defense Exchanges
the sections in the Joint Chief of Staff
office that have regional portfolio, and each
Office of Chief of Staff are in charge of
comprehensive defense exchanges
1) Defense cooperation
2) Confidence building measures
Defense Security Cooperation Agency in OSD
3) Security assistance
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1) Defense cooperation
2) Confidence building measures
More global engagement beyond Japans
neighboring countries
Japan-Pakistan
Japan-India
Joint exercises, multilateral seminars on
disaster relief operations
3) Security assistance
Cobra Gold Exercise
Defense Exchanges of the U.S.
Defense Exchanges of Japan
Image of Defense Exchanges of the U.S. and
Defense Exchanges of Japan
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3. Necessity of the Cooperation between the U.S.
and Japan
(1) Mutual Understanding on Respective Basic
Concepts for Defense Exchanges
When Japan first began to intensify its efforts
in defense exchanges after the end of the Cold
War, some U.S. defense officials became
suspicious that Japan might have
begun to neglect the
U.S.-Japan bilateral relations.
Japan-Russia
Reviewing the U.S.-Japan security relationship
Guidelines for U.S.-Japan Defense Cooperation
(1997) Both Governments
recognize the importance and
significance of defense exchanges
and will
promote such activities and cooperate as
necessary.
22 Meeting
The U.S. and Japan to cooperate and
understand each other
on the respective concepts of
defense exchanges.
Basic Policy for Defense Exchanges (2007)
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(2) Creating Synergy on Defense Exchanges
Republic of Korea
Mongolia
India
the Philippines
JAPAN
the U.S.
Thailand
U.S.-Japan Alliance, with the U.S.-Japan
security relationship at its core, is the
linchpin of American security policy in the
Asia-Pacific region
Malaysia
Australia
Indonesia
Singapore
The U.S.-Japan Alliance can and should remain
at the core of the United States Asia strategy.
And, the key to the success of this strategy is
for the alliance to continue to evolve from an
exclusive alliance based on common threats
toward a more open, inclusive alliance based on
common interests and values.
The U.S.-Japan Alliance Getting Asia Right
through 2020 (Armitage-Nye Report II)
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(3) Resolving Problems related Our Respective
Defense Exchanges with Other Countries
Japan rejected the Australian military
students training in Japan under Japanese Law.
The U.S. deployed these units to Japan for
training for several months.
The U.S. couldnt receive PLA officers who were
studying in NIDS under U.S. regulations.
NO
NIDS planned to send a delegation of students to
the U.S.
NO
The U.S. Marine Corps received military
students form the Australian Defense Force in
aviation units.
NIDS received military students from China PLA.
1) We have to cooperate with each other in
order to understand, and have to list
these problems. 2) If possible, we have to
resolve these problems between the U.S. and
Japan which occurred in our respective
defense exchanges with other countries.
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4. Measures to Cooperate between the U.S. and
Japan
(1) Purpose of the Cooperation
The purpose of the cooperation on our respective
defense exchanges between the U.S. and Japan,
which share the fundamental values such as
freedom and democracy, is to improve the
international security environment and solidify
peace and stability of the international
community and the region.
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(2) Setting up Consultation mechanism discuss
cooperation in Defense Exchanges
- The U.S.-Japan Security Consultative
Committee (22 Meeting) - High-level exchanges
of defense officials - Regular consultations
between defense authorities
Existing Consultations
22 Meeting
We have to eliminate the negative effects
of bureaucratic sectionalism, and these
consultations must include sections in charge of
the U.S.-Japan bilateral exchanges.
We need to set up new consultations on defense
exchanges between the respective bodies
in charge of defense exchanges in the U.S.
and Japan.
- to mutually understand the respective
concepts of defense exchanges - to share the
fruits of defense exchanges conducted thus far
- to share ideas on defense exchanges hereafter,
and establish the procedures for cooperation
in order to strategically promote our respective
defense exchanges. - to mutually understand,
list and resolve problems between the U.S. and
Japan which occurred in our respective
defense exchanges
Contents of Consultations
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highlighted some common strategic
objectives, for instance, 1)further encouraging
China to conduct itself as a responsible
international stakeholder, improve
transparency in its military affairs, and
maintain consistency between its stated policies
and actions, 2)further strengthen trilateral
cooperation among the U.S., Japan and Australia
in the region and around the world, including
in the areas of security and defense,
3)continuing to build upon partnership with
India.
The Joint Statement of the U.S.-Japan Security
Consultative Committee, Alliance
Transformation Advancing the U.S.-Japan
Security and Defense Cooperation (May 2007)
1) China - Researchers of the U.S. and Japan
are vigorously researching how to promote
defense exchanges with China. 2) Australia -
Japan and Australia released the Japan-Australia
Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation
(March 2007). - the first trilateral meeting
of defense chiefs between the U.S., Japan and
Australia was held at the occasion of the
sixth Asia Security Conference (June 2007). 3)
India - the U.S., Japan and India conducted
the first trilateral joint maritime exercise
(April 2007).
The U.S.-Japan-Australia
The U.S.-Japan-India
We should promote such kinds of defense exchanges
through proactive consultations.
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(3) Areas of Concrete Cooperation
a. Promote Bilateral Exchanges
the U.S. Navy ship Peleliu, which included
foreign military doctors and NGOs, visited
Vietnam and other countries to support medical
treatment efforts. JSDF doctors also took part
in this activity.
the Asia-Pacific region has diversity
Such diversity will influence our respective
defense exchanges
So if there are some areas of cooperation on
wide variety of defense exchanges of the
U.S. such as activity of Peleliu, Japan should
proactively take part in these.
to inform each other of the situations of
respective defense exchanges
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b. Promote Multilateral Exchanges
Indonesia Earthquake
Pakistan Earthquake
The U.S. should lead allies and friendly nations
as a hub of security arrangements in the
Asia-Pacific region, and promote more
multilateral exchanges such as the Asia-Pacific
Chief of Defense Conference.
Japan has hosted seminars on disaster relief
operations
In future, Japan should expand such kind of
seminars which related to operations.
Japan has same advantage to promote defense
exchanges with Southeast Asia, because this area
is a priority region in Japanese ODA. So, Japan
should use this advantage to promote multilateral
exchanges.
Chief of Defense Conference in Japan
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c. Promote Track 2s
It is not easy to conduct frank discussions
with military officers of communist countries
such as China, Vietnam, Laos and so on in
official exchanges. So when we discuss with
these countries on the common security concern
of the U.S. and Japan, we should also apply
Track Two approaches.
Track Two conferences, which are hosted by the
private sector and which participants part from
their official position of their respective
governments and discuss individual positions.
Encouraging the peaceful resolution of issues
concerning the Taiwan Strait through dialogue,
Track Two conferences may also be effective.
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d. Promote Bilateral and Multilateral Exercises
Bilateral and Multilateral Exercises
International Peace Cooperation Activities of
JSDF
Iraq
Multilateral Search and Rescue Exercises
The Indian Ocean
Golan Heights
We should cooperate and promote such defense
exchanges furthermore.
Cobra Gold Exercise
I think if Japan hopes to promote bilateral and
multilateral exercises further, Japan needs to
resolve the issue of exercising the right of
collective self-defense so that Japan can do
so like other foreign military forces.
Trilateral Joint Maritime Exercise (the
U.S.-Japan-India)
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Conclusion
General Vo Nguyen Giap said, Vietnam hopes to
promote defense exchanges with foreign
countries.
Let the U.S. and Japan cooperate with each
other on our respective defense exchanges with
other countries to improve the international
security environment.