Japan's security initiatives in line with ARF

Japan's security initiatives in line with ARF

By A.K.P. Mochtan

JAKARTA (JP): Japan, the quiet but economically powerful force
of Asia, is charting a more defined role and position vis-a-vis
strategic and security configurations in Asia. Confined almost
always to the modest role of being a supporter -- albeit a
reliable and rich one -- fresh security initiatives from Tokyo
are likely to improve the country's standing in and contributions
to cooperative security efforts in the Asia-Pacific region.

The refined and newly released Guidelines for Japan-U.S.
Defense Cooperation is an important cornerstone of Tokyo's
security initiative. Essentially an update outlining a more
detailed arrangement and coordination of defense-related matters
between Japan and the U.S., the new guidelines provide a clearer
picture of the role of the Japanese Self Defense Forces,
including in crisis situations.

This is useful to promote transparency in the East and
Southeast Asian region, as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) intends
to fulfill. In addition to this, a new clause governing
"cooperation activities initiated by either government" contains
a number of operational guidelines that are relevant to the ARF.

Specifically, newly inserted operational guidelines "to deal
with refugees, search and rescue, and non-combatant evacuation
operations" are all promising area of activities that could be
expanded and incorporated into ARF activities and processes, as
part of the ARF's comprehensive security and confidence building
scheme. In sum, the new guidelines provide Tokyo with a solid
platform to complement and strengthen ARF's on-going efforts.

Southeast Asia and ASEAN members are likely to welcome the new
Japanese initiatives at least for two reasons. First, it has a
built-in control to restrict Japanese actions, namely due to the
centrality of the U.S. position within the alliance. Second,
while relatively restricted, the increased responsibility and
involvement of the Japanese Self Defense Forces are crucially
important to sustain the American presence in the Asia-Pacific.

In other words, as long as it is firmly placed within the
framework of the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty, an expansion in
role, responsibilities and initiatives by Tokyo is welcome, in
fact indispensable. The one thing that Tokyo must ensure is the
transparency of the process, which can easily be met through
various measures such as prior consultations.

Reaction from Beijing is another important consideration that
Japan must take into account. As it is now, the new guidelines
contain a number of caveats which would warrant strong and
legitimate reactions from the Chinese. Ambiguous references such
as "areas surrounding Japan" which are "not geographic but
situational" must be clarified.

The bottom line is that Japan -- and also the U.S. -- must be
able to soothe Chinese security concerns persuasively and
thoroughly. As the triangular China, Japan and U.S. relationship
is of utmost importance to the strategic and security equations
in the Asia-Pacific region, a "trialogue" among these countries
is an inescapable and urgent necessity.

Japan should strive to materialize this trialogue mechanism
soon. For this purpose, Tokyo must first and foremost remind its
ally, the Americans, about the region's perpetual sensitivities
and wariness over Tokyo's security initiatives and actions. Of
particular importance is to convince Japan's neighbors of the
significance and benefit of Japan-U.S. joint actions for the
region as a whole, and not simply as an extension of Washington
interests or pressure.

Second, to lessen Chinese sensitivities, Tokyo may want to try
to facilitate formation of the aforementioned trialogue through
the good offices of the ARF or, if appropriate, through the
services of another forum, such as the Council for Security
Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific.

Whichever forum is used, the main objective is clear -- namely
to minimize suspicions and improve understandings, particularly
on the Chinese side. If Japan fails to do this, then Tokyo's new
and promising security initiatives would be meaningless for the
Asia-Pacific region -- in fact detrimental to ARF cooperative
security activities.

The writer is an analyst at the Center for Strategic and
International Studies, Jakarta.