先日発表された日米安全保障協議委員会（「2+2」）を豪州政府の知り合いに送ったら結構な反応があった。特にパトロールボート支援のところだ。みんな知らなかった。日米同盟だから豪州抜き当たり前とは言っても、実施は豪州も関係してくるはずだ。
それに豪州はまさに過去３０年間実施してきたパトロールボートの新しい事業を検討している最中なので驚いただろう。
豪州抜かして、パトロールボート支援はあり得ないので下記のコメントを作成し、国務省に送った。
このコメント、国務省のブログに掲載されたよ〜。一応国務省の誰かに読んでもらえたようだ。海洋安全保障研究の大家Dr Sam Batemanからも"well done" とのメールをもらったので、的は外してないようだ。
http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/site/entry/strengthening_security_partnerships_asia_pacific#C4883
I have read the Joint Statement of the Security Consultative Committee which was released on April 27, 2012 with my special attention on section II.
I am very pleased that both governments have focused on “New Initiatives to Promote Regional Peace, Stability, and Prosperity”. Also our attention is drawn to a phrase from this section.
“In this context, the U.S. Government plans to continue to help allies and partners in the region to build their capacity with training and exercises. The Government of Japan, for its part, plans to take various measures to promote safety in the region, including strategic use of official development assistance, for example through providing coastal states with patrol boats.”
I believe that “coastal states” include Pacific Island countries where Australia has provided 22 Pacific Patrol Boats over the last 30 years as well as Royal Australian Navy officers for each Pacific Island Nations.
Also, since 2008, the Nippon Foundation and the Sasakawa Peace Foundation- Japanese NGOs has been working for enhancing the sea surveillance capacity of three Micronesian countries - United State’s Free Association States – including providing patrol boats.
I would like to make two comments on this section.
First, this Joint Statement is exactly in the same direction of the Australian government and two NGOs in Japan. In this sense Japan and the US need to collaborate with Australia who has the experience, and now examine a new approach for maritime security in this region, including expanding the law enforcement capacity.
Secondly, I would like to assert that moving the focus of the US-Japan alliance from Okinawa to the Pacific Ocean would change the direction of this alliance. The US military presence in Okinawa is the result of War. After 70 years, Japan now needs to take responsibility for global security under a US-Japan alliance. After UNCLOS came into force in 1994 small islands states possessed huge EEZ's, and this is where all the transnational illegal activities are now induced, such as IUU, human trafficking, and the smuggling of drugs.
I believe that the US, Japan and Australia need to work on these issues for “Regional Peace, Stability, and Prosperity”.
Ultimately, I believe that this will also lead to solve the Okinawan problem.
