Defense of Japan 2009
(Annual White Paper)
East Asian Strategic Review 2009
( The National Institute for Defense Studies)
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HOME > Defense Policy > Meeting of Senior Defense Officials on Common Security Challenges in the Asia-Pacific Region and Tokyo Seminar on Common Security Challenges
1. Meeting of Senior Defense Officials on Common Security Challenges in the Asia-Pacific Region
Welcoming Address by Parliamentary Secretary Takeda (Center)
The meeting of senior defense officials on common security challenges in the Asia-Pacific region was held for the first time on Tuesday, March 17, 2009 in Tokyo. The purpose of this meeting is to build close person-to-person relationships among defense officials of Japan and ASEAN member countries through informal and frank discussion on regional security challenges. Participating countries other than Japan were Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam.
This meeting was chaired by Mr. Kohei Masuda, Vice-Minister of Defense, Japan. In the meeting, Japan explained the objectives of initiating the meeting and participants frankly and constructively discussed common regional security challenges such as humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, maritime security, peace keeping and peace building.
Participants deepened mutual understanding on respective views on common regional security challenges. They all recognized and shared the view that dialogue of this kind is truly beneficial for forging foundation for stronger bilateral and multilateral ties based on mutual trust and cooperation.
The Ministry of Defense of Japan proposed to hold the meeting on a regular basis and the participants supported the proposal.
Remarks by Minister Hamada at the opening of the reception
Remarks by Senior Vice-Minister Kitamura at the reception
[Welcoming address by Parliamentary Secretary Takeda (pdf)] (38KB)
2. Tokyo Seminar on Common Security Challenges
[Remarks by Parliamentary Secretary Kishi (pdf)] (18KB)
Address by Parliamentary Secretary Kishi at the Tokyo Seminar
The Ministry of Defense of Japan organized the 1st Tokyo Seminar on Common Security Challenges on Wednesday, March 18, 2009 in Tokyo.
This seminar aims to contribute to further proactive efforts by Japan to improve the security environment and to the promotion of regional dialogue and cooperation in the field of security. In this seminar, senior defense officials and distinguished experts from Southeast Asian countries and Japan explored the following issues:
1) Common security challenges in the Asia-Pacific region;
2) Ways to facilitate regional cooperation against common security challenges; and
3) Roles and preparations of defense authorities in facilitating regional cooperation.
1st Tokyo Seminar was made open to the public.
Chair
Masashi Nishihara President, Research Institute for Peace and Security, Japan
Panelists
Session 1 “Common Security Challenges in the Region and Ways to Promote Regional Cooperation”
| Kohei Masuda | Vice-Minister of Defense, Japan |
| Antonio C. Santos Jr. | Undersecretary for Defense Affairs, Department of National Defense, Philippines |
| Jusuf Wanandi | Vice Chair, Board of Trustees of CSIS Foundation, Center for Strategic and International Studies, Indonesia |
| Mohamed Jawhar Hassan | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Institute of Strategic and International Studies, Malaysia |
| Seiichiro Takagi | Professor, Aoyama Gakuin University, Japan |
Session 2 “Efforts of the Defense Authorities for the Promotion of Regional Cooperation”
| Barry Desker | Dean, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore |
| Thitinan Pongsudhirak | Director, Institute of Security and International Studies, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand |
| Yasushi Akashi | Chairman, Japan Center for Conflict Prevention |
| Koichi Isobe | Vice Commanding General (International), Central Readiness Force, Ground Self-Defense Force, Japan |
| Masahiro Akiyama | Chairman, Ocean Policy and Research Foundation |
