With Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe meeting with U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Jonathan Greenert last month to discuss maritime security, it was certainly expected that this issue would dominate his Keynote Address at the 13th annual IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. A tense stage was set: with regional pressure continuing to mount in Chinese oil drilling activity off the coast of the Parcel Islands, a standoff between Chinese and Vietnamese ships had begun. Additionally, with Chinese and Japanese jets flying in the airspace over the East China Sea, a heated international conflict was well underway.
Abe’s Address
Prime Minister Abe began with a rhetorical question, asking how Japan should contribute to the pursuit of “peace and prosperity in Asia, forevermore.” While covering a wide area throughout his speech—from training maritime law enforcement personnel from multiple ASEAN countries to the positive impression gained by Chinese high school students who study in Japan on exchange—he drove home the attention Japan places on the importance of international law. In sketching out history, including the Age of Exploration, he emphasized how “the principle of freedom on the high seas came to be established” and how the “seas became the foundation for human prosperity.” He made it abundantly clear how important it is that international law is honored and that Japan would support ASEAN countries so they have the ability to “rigorously maintain freedom of navigation and over flight.”
Within this, he expanded on the rule of law at sea explaining that, “If we take the fundamental spirit that we have infused into international law over the ages and reformulate it into three principles, we find the law of the sea is actually a matter of common sense.” He specified that states should make and clarify their claims based on international law; that they should not utilize force or coercion in pursuit of their claims; and finally, that it is through peaceful means that these should be pursued. He closed by reiterating his initial phrase: “Japan for the rule of law, Asia for the rule of law, and the rule of law for all of us.”
Reinforcing the Message
While speaking about his interactions with regional leaders—from Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott to U.S. President Barack Obama—combined with his visits to all ten ASEAN countries in 2013, Prime Minister Abe emphasized that “we enjoy a consensus in our respect for freedom of navigation and freedom of over flight.” Earlier that day, Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera, U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, and Australian Defence Minister David Johnston held trilateral defense ministerial talks. In a joint statement, they expressed how “the U.S. and Australian Defense ministers welcomed and supported Japan’s recent efforts to play a greater role in regional and global security, including thoroughly examining the relations between the right of collective self-defense and constitution, as well as adopting the new principles on transfer of defense equipment and technology.”
In his remarks the following day, Secretary Hagel was very direct when he remarked how China has called the South China Sea a “sea of peace, friendship, and cooperation,” a sentiment that he concurred with. However, he explained, “In recent months China has undertaken destabilizing, unilateral actions asserting its claims in the South China Sea.” He went on to describe China’s actions, including restricting access to Scarborough Shoal, pressuring the Filipino presence on Second Thomas shoal, and efforts at land reclamation in multiple locations, including the presence of their oil rig near the Paracel Islands. In recent months, the Philippines has filed a diplomatic protest as they worry about the possible construction of an airstrip on areas of Chinese reclamation on the Johnson South Reef, having documented significant activity involving earth-moving equipment from maritime surveillance flights.
Building on the remarks of his Prime Minister, Minister Onodera took his opportunity during the second plenary session to stress how “international norms and laws of freedom of navigation and over flight on the high seas are an important basis for the development of future military-to-military relations in this region.” In the third plenary on the theme of “managing strategic tensions,” Minister Johnston made it clear that Australia supports unimpeded trade and freedom of navigation, opposing any unilateral action to change the status quo in the East or South China Seas. During the question and answer period, he was asked about a common theme being expressed by the U.S. and two of its key regional allies, to which he responded that this is indeed the case, since those principles are soundly based in international law. Ultimately, like-minded countries reinforced the message that Prime Minister Abe brought to his keynote address of the importance of international law and how they support Japan’s “Proactive Contribution to Peace.”
Justin Goldman is an Associate Research Fellow in Military Studies at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies and a Non-Resident Fellow at Pacific Forum CSIS. He has previously been a Visiting Scholar in International Studies at De La Salle University in Manila.
Photo by Army SGT Sabrina Black, U.S. Pacific Command Public Affairs. U.S. Secretary of Defense, Honorable Chuck Hagel (left), Australian Minister of Defense, Senator David Johnston(center) and Japan Minister of Defense Isunori Onodera (right) held a trilateral discussion regarding mutual security interests during the Shangri La Dialogue in Singapore.
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Japan’s “Proactive Contribution to Peace” Takes Center Stage at the Shangri-La Dialogue
July 9, 2014
With Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe meeting with U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Jonathan Greenert last month to discuss maritime security, it was certainly expected that this issue would dominate his Keynote Address at the 13th annual IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. A tense stage was set: with regional pressure continuing to mount in Chinese oil drilling activity off the coast of the Parcel Islands, a standoff between Chinese and Vietnamese ships had begun. Additionally, with Chinese and Japanese jets flying in the airspace over the East China Sea, a heated international conflict was well underway.
Abe’s Address
Prime Minister Abe began with a rhetorical question, asking how Japan should contribute to the pursuit of “peace and prosperity in Asia, forevermore.” While covering a wide area throughout his speech—from training maritime law enforcement personnel from multiple ASEAN countries to the positive impression gained by Chinese high school students who study in Japan on exchange—he drove home the attention Japan places on the importance of international law. In sketching out history, including the Age of Exploration, he emphasized how “the principle of freedom on the high seas came to be established” and how the “seas became the foundation for human prosperity.” He made it abundantly clear how important it is that international law is honored and that Japan would support ASEAN countries so they have the ability to “rigorously maintain freedom of navigation and over flight.”
Within this, he expanded on the rule of law at sea explaining that, “If we take the fundamental spirit that we have infused into international law over the ages and reformulate it into three principles, we find the law of the sea is actually a matter of common sense.” He specified that states should make and clarify their claims based on international law; that they should not utilize force or coercion in pursuit of their claims; and finally, that it is through peaceful means that these should be pursued. He closed by reiterating his initial phrase: “Japan for the rule of law, Asia for the rule of law, and the rule of law for all of us.”
Reinforcing the Message
While speaking about his interactions with regional leaders—from Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott to U.S. President Barack Obama—combined with his visits to all ten ASEAN countries in 2013, Prime Minister Abe emphasized that “we enjoy a consensus in our respect for freedom of navigation and freedom of over flight.” Earlier that day, Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera, U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, and Australian Defence Minister David Johnston held trilateral defense ministerial talks. In a joint statement, they expressed how “the U.S. and Australian Defense ministers welcomed and supported Japan’s recent efforts to play a greater role in regional and global security, including thoroughly examining the relations between the right of collective self-defense and constitution, as well as adopting the new principles on transfer of defense equipment and technology.”
In his remarks the following day, Secretary Hagel was very direct when he remarked how China has called the South China Sea a “sea of peace, friendship, and cooperation,” a sentiment that he concurred with. However, he explained, “In recent months China has undertaken destabilizing, unilateral actions asserting its claims in the South China Sea.” He went on to describe China’s actions, including restricting access to Scarborough Shoal, pressuring the Filipino presence on Second Thomas shoal, and efforts at land reclamation in multiple locations, including the presence of their oil rig near the Paracel Islands. In recent months, the Philippines has filed a diplomatic protest as they worry about the possible construction of an airstrip on areas of Chinese reclamation on the Johnson South Reef, having documented significant activity involving earth-moving equipment from maritime surveillance flights.
Building on the remarks of his Prime Minister, Minister Onodera took his opportunity during the second plenary session to stress how “international norms and laws of freedom of navigation and over flight on the high seas are an important basis for the development of future military-to-military relations in this region.” In the third plenary on the theme of “managing strategic tensions,” Minister Johnston made it clear that Australia supports unimpeded trade and freedom of navigation, opposing any unilateral action to change the status quo in the East or South China Seas. During the question and answer period, he was asked about a common theme being expressed by the U.S. and two of its key regional allies, to which he responded that this is indeed the case, since those principles are soundly based in international law. Ultimately, like-minded countries reinforced the message that Prime Minister Abe brought to his keynote address of the importance of international law and how they support Japan’s “Proactive Contribution to Peace.”
Justin Goldman is an Associate Research Fellow in Military Studies at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies and a Non-Resident Fellow at Pacific Forum CSIS. He has previously been a Visiting Scholar in International Studies at De La Salle University in Manila.
Photo by Army SGT Sabrina Black, U.S. Pacific Command Public Affairs. U.S. Secretary of Defense, Honorable Chuck Hagel (left), Australian Minister of Defense, Senator David Johnston(center) and Japan Minister of Defense Isunori Onodera (right) held a trilateral discussion regarding mutual security interests during the Shangri La Dialogue in Singapore.
