Indo-Pacific Deployment 2021(IPD21)｜Exercise | Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
I had the privilege of being the catalyst for the deployment of the Maritime Self-Defense Force to the Indo-Pacific.
There are people like Prof. Nakayama of Keio University who told me the lie that "other people started it", so I'll write about it a million times. I'm not trying to boast, but when ignorant and non-experienced people try to snatch my achievements and do something with them, then tragedy and disaster ensues.
This was directly triggered by my lectures to the two parliamentary groups in 2017. There, I proposed that maritime security be put on the agenda of the 2018 Pacific Island Leaders Summit (PALM). Immediately, Prime Minister Abe's right-hand men, MP Keiji Furuya, MP Seiichi Eto, and MP Daishiro Yamagiwa, as well as other members of the group, acted on the proposal and submitted it to then Finance Minister Aso and Foreign Minister Kishida.
I then published an English-language article on maritime security for the PALM8, in a special issue of the East-West Center of the United States, with invitation from Ms Cleo Paskal. This was reaffirmed by the Abe government, and for the first time of since 1997, "maritime security" was on the agenda of the PALM, in addition to the Austronesian languages linking the Indo-Pacific.
Japan's Oceania Engagement and Maritime Security | East-West Center | www.eastwestcenter.org
A more distant inspiration came in 2008, when I launched Micronesian Maritime Security Project. Yohei Sasakawa, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism or the Nippon Foundation, had not done anything, because they don't know anything about pacific islands, neither maritime security, but they are interested in only shipbuilding consession. The Japanese Coast Guard came in this project, but I felt the limitations of thier own interests, then I had moved the Japan Fisheries Agency to dispatch surveillance ship to Palau.
I thought it would take 10 years for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force would move, but it's now 13 years later. It has moved on a three-month voyage to the Indo-Pacific, including Palau and New Caledonia. Moreover, it has undertaken another mission of mine.
Last but not least, MP Kentaro Sonoura, a former Special dvisor to the Prime Minister, who was instrumental in getting the 2018PALM results to work as whole Japanese government approach. His efforts encouraged JMSDF to deployment towards Pacific Islands. I don't think he understands how grateful I am to him.
