(Provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only)
I have three announcements at the outset. The first matter is about the holding of the Japan-Philippines “2+2” and Japan-Philippines Defense Ministers’ Meeting. If circumstances permit, I will visit the Philippines from Sunday, July 7 to Monday, July 8, and will hold a Japan-Philippines Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting, a so-called “2+2,” and a Defense Ministers’ Meeting. At this series of meetings, I will discuss further strengthening of bilateral and multilateral security and defense cooperation toward the realization of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” based on the rule of law, taking into account the Japan-U.S.-Philippines Summit in April this year and the Australia-Japan-Philippines-United States Defense Ministers’ Meeting in May. This will be the second time that we hold a Japan-Philippines “2+2” since the first meeting was held in Tokyo in April 2022. I intend to further develop our cooperative relations with the Philippines, which has great significance from a security perspective, on the occasion of this visit.
The second is about considerations regarding the deployment of mobile air and surveillance radar and other equipment on Kitadaitojima Island. As stated in the Defense Buildup Program, it is an urgent issue to strengthen the surveillance on the Pacific Ocean side of Japan in light of the expansion and increase in activities by neighboring countries and others. From this perspective, the Ministry of Defense (MOD) and the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) have been considering Kitadaitojima Island in Okinawa Prefecture as a potential candidate site for the deployment of units that will operate the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF)’s mobile air and surveillance radar and other equipment. Yesterday, on Thursday, June 27, we informed Kitadaito Village of our intention to deploy the unit concerned through the Okinawa Defense Bureau, based on the field survey we have conducted so far. Furthermore, in December 2021, the Kitadaito village assembly passed a resolution to invite the SDF to the village, and in the same month, requested the MOD to deploy the unit. The MOD will continue to closely cooperate with Kitadaito Village and firmly provide courteous explanations and appropriate information to the local residents.
The third matter is the agreement concerning efforts to secure human resources between the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), the MOD, and organizations related to the motor vehicle transportation industry and others. Today, the MOD agreed with the MLIT and organizations related to the motor vehicle transportation industry and others to cooperate in efforts to secure human resources for the motor vehicle transportation industry, others, and the SDF. Specifically, the MLIT, local organizations of the MOD, and members of industry groups have agreed to promote further strengthening of cooperation in securing human resources in the motor vehicle transportation industry and smooth reemployment support for SDF personnel who plan to resign, securing human resources in the SDF, and initiatives for systems related to SDF reserve personnel and others. Enhancing and strengthening reemployment support for SDF personnel is extremely important for securing human resources. The MOD expects that this agreement will promote smooth reemployment support for SDF personnel who plan to retire, and that mutual cooperation in the areas of SDF recruitment as well as systems related to SDF reserve personnel will have a positive effect on enhancing the appeal of the SDF.