(Provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only)
I have just learned of the passing of Ambassador Armitage, former Deputy Secretary of State of the U.S. It is truly regrettable. I would like to express my heartfelt condolences. In 2001, when I was Director General of the Japan Defense Agency and Ambassador Armitage paid his first visit to Japan as U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, he first visited the Defense Agency and gave his greetings. In other words, we held a meeting. Ambassador Armitage always had a warm heart toward Japan and dedicated himself to building the Japan-U.S. Alliance. That same year, the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the U.S. occurred. Afterwards, I visited the U.S., and there we met again. During a severe period in international affairs, Ambassador Armitage shared his insight on how the Japan-U.S. Alliance should be. For more than two decades, he truly stood at the forefront, working hard to strengthen the Japan-U.S. Alliance and realize peace and stability in the world. Since 2001, I have had the opportunity to meet with Ambassador Armitage on numerous occasions and hear his views on the Japan-U.S. relationship and the various issues facing the world. Above all, he was highly knowledgeable about Japan. He cared and was concerned about Japan’s security more than anyone else. His passing is a tremendous loss to Japan. For me, he was a longtime friend and a predecessor I respected, and I am deeply saddened by his passing. Once again, I would like to express my respect for his many years of distinguished service and extend my heartfelt condolences.
Regarding Ospreys of the Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF), we are proceeding with the opening of Camp Saga. From the perspective of enabling integrated operation with the Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade located in Camp Ainoura in Nagasaki Prefecture, we have decided to open Camp Saga at a site adjacent to Saga Airport and deploy Ospreys there. To open the camp, construction of the necessary facilities for relocating the Ospreys is currently under way at the site, and the work is progressing steadily toward completion by the end of June this year. On this basis, we have decided to open Camp Saga on July 9 of this year and relocate the airlift wing, which operates Ospreys, from Camp Kisarazu to Camp Saga. For this relocation, the Ospreys will be transferred sequentially with the highest priority placed on flight safety. The relocation is expected to be completed by mid-August. The Ministry of Defense (MOD) will continue to make every effort with a view to opening Camp Saga and relocating the GSDF Ospreys.
I have an announcement about the holding of a Japan-Tonga Defense Minister’s Meeting. Tomorrow, Wednesday, April 16, I will welcome HRH the Crown Prince ʻUlukalala of the Kingdom of Tonga to the MOD. HRH the Crown Prince ʻUlukalala has been concurrently serving as Minister for His Majesty’s Armed Forces and Minister for Foreign Affairs since January of this year. A meeting between HRH the Crown Prince ʻUlukalala and the Japanese Minister of Defense was held in March of last year with then Minister Kihara, when HRH the Crown Prince attended the 2nd Japan Pacific Islands Defense Dialogue (JPIDD) as a delegate of Tonga. I am the chair of the Japan-Tonga Parliamentary Friendship Association, and I have had a very close relationship with the Kingdom of Tonga. The Kingdom of Tonga is an important partner that shares fundamental values such as democracy and the rule of law. In recent years, our defense cooperation and exchanges have made significant progress, including Tonga’s participation in JPIDD, port calls by Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels, and capacity-building assistance. Against this backdrop, it is highly meaningful to hold a defense ministers’ meeting with HRH the Crown Prince ʻUlukalala, who has been appointed Minister for His Majesty’s Armed Forces. I sincerely welcome HRH the Crown Prince ʻUlukalala’s visit to the MOD. During our meeting, I will engage in a candid exchange of opinions on defense cooperation and exchange programs between the two countries and work toward strengthening our future ties.
About exhibiting at DSEI 2025. DSEI Japan 2025, the only fully integrated international defense and security event in Japan, will be held at Makuhari Messe next month, from May 21 to 23. This is the third time that the event is being organized, following on from 2019 and 2023. MOD is one of the supporters of this event and will also have a booth, where we plan to actively disseminate information on Japan’s defense equipment and advanced technological capabilities. Starting from the upcoming event, in addition to the booth of the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency, we will set up special booths for each SDF service to exhibit their equipment. These displays will be designed to better inform participants of the capabilities and technological excellence of the equipment. In addition, many domestic defense-related companies are scheduled to exhibit, and we expect that the event will provide valuable matching opportunities. The MOD will continue to advance various initiatives, including information dissemination through international equipment events. Through public-private collaboration, we will promote appropriate equipment transfers under the Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology.