Japan Ministry of Defense (JMOD) held the 3rd Professional Airmanship Program (PAP) from Feb 20-21 by inviting Air Force officers from ASEAN countries and a staff from ASEAN Secretariat in order to promote mutual understanding and trust, and share knowledge of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HA/DR).
The PAP was started by Japan’s proposal in the 4th ASEAN-Japan Defense Ministers’ Informal Meeting. It is conducted with a view to strengthening ASEAN’s resilience, in order to uphold and reinforce the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) based on the Vientiane Vision 2.0, the guiding principle for Japan-ASEAN defense cooperation.
In the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation, the PAP was held in-person for the first time in four years since the first PAP was held in July 2019. Participants from JMOD/JSDF and ASEAN, including Japan Air Self-Defense Force personnel, who are active in the front lines everyday further promoted mutual understanding and trust, and shared the expertise and practical knowledge of HA/DR.
Finally, the PAP participants paid courtesy calls on Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Defense Onoda and General Izutsu, Chief of Staff, Japan Air Self-Defense Force.
Main Program
Seminar
・Defense policy of Japan：Japan explained the National Defense Strategy of Japan and promoted participants’ understanding of defense policy of Japan.
・Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HA/DR)：After presentation on the Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s HA/DR related activities such as the Subject Matter Expert Exchange and bilateral exercises, the participants exchanged opinions on this topic .
Special lecture commemorating the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation: FOIP and the future of ASEAN-Japan defense cooperation
On the occasion of the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation, Mr. Kazuo Sunaga, former Ambassador of the Mission of Japan to ASEAN made a speech regarding the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) and the future of Japan-ASEAN defense cooperation.
Base visits
Through the tour to JSDF Aero Medical Evacuation Squadron (Komaki Air Base) and Hamamatsu Air Rescue Squadron (Hamamatsu Air Base), Japan shared expertise and practical knowledge relevant to HA/DR in the aviation field in order to respond to various disasters which occur frequently in the ASEAN region.
