(Provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only)
I will speak about an event to commemorate the accreditation of the Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) Chemical School as an Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Designated Laboratory.
Today, I attended a ceremony to commemorate the accreditation of the GSDF Chemical School as an OPCW Designated Laboratory and had the opportunity to provide words of encouragement to the Chemical School’s personnel. The Chemical School, as the only institution in Japan that specializes in conducting educational activities and training, as well as investigative research, regarding chemical defense, has strived to enhance Japan’s response capability against chemical weapons. As the Minister of Defense, I am greatly pleased by the Chemical School’s accreditation as an OPCW Designated Laboratory. This accreditation will enable the Chemical School to gain further analysis and verification knowledge and abilities through the acquisition of the latest chemical-weapon-related information from the OPCW, among other means. I hope that, going forward, the Chemical School will work proactively to enhance its knowledge and abilities of this kind as an OPCW Designated Laboratory and contribute further to responding to global security challenges and enhancing Japan’s ability to respond to contingencies. I would also like to take this opportunity to once again express my gratitude to members of the local community for their continued understanding and cooperation for the activities of the Chemical School.