Continued from my post HERE
A disruption in its strategic posture
The projection of Self-Defence Forces (ADF) Japanese in the Gulf of Aden can bring to a debate when you know the constitutional limits of the country. Indeed, Japan adopted after World War II a "pacifist constitution" famous Article 9 interpreted as banning the use of armed force in defense of national interests and maintaining an army, "the Japanese people forever renounce war as sovereign right of the nation or the use of force as means of international conflict resolution. (...) It will never be maintained forces of earth, sea and air, as well as other war potential. " The Constitution does not recognize the right of belligerency in the sense of Article 51 of the UN Charter (3). Yet in the wake of the Korean War (50-53) and the Cold War, Japan has developed Self-Defense Forces today among the most developed armies (4) and the tropic sea of the archipelago because of its marine one of the best. But for many Japanese this clause is an obstacle to international ambitions of Tokyo in particular for his involvement in the operations of peacekeeping. Also some changes as the transformation of late 2006 the Defense Agency into a ministry allowing him to make laws, orders, to have a budget reflects the desire of countries to "normalize". As early as 2003 with the war in Iraq, the Japanese have changed their constitutions in order to deploy troops on operations reconstruction or humanitarian assistance or to join the "activities of international police. Thus, the Constitution does not preclude the presence of the SDF abroad is one of the conditions requested by the country concerned and that their activities do not encourage them to use force.
A growing commitment in the fight against piracy
For Japan piracy off Somalia is a growing phenomenon found in Southeast Asia and for which Tokyo had played a role foreground including training of Malaysian Coastguard, Singaporeans and Indonesians. Freedom of movement on the sea routes is vital for Western and Asian countries. In addition, the energy dependence of Japan explains why the country has one of the largest navies in the world to ensure the security of its energy supply. Indeed, sea route through the Strait of Bab El Mandeb is of major interest for a country which exports heavily technologies. Of the 20 000 ships pass through the strait is 10% or properties contain Japanese goods and 90% of Japanese exports this route. Opinion public has largely mobilized as a result of pirate attacks (5) and Japan decided in summer 2009 to deploy two destroyers (6) and two maritime patrol aircraft P-3C Orion for its self-defense when that only 5 countries have sent planes (including France, the United States, Spain and Germany). observers were very surprised at the speed of this unusual decision in general rising sun (7).
Under the Anti Piracy Japanese warships are under the application of the law against pirate July 24, 2009. A Originally the ships were deployed to escort the Japanese vessels under Article 82 of the Law on Self-Defense Forces, but the law of July 24, allows them to protect ships carrying any flag, while other Multinational forces have adopted the "corridor": each monitoring a specific area and coordinating its action turns in the corridor CRTI (8). Indeed, we have seen, due to its Article 9, Japanese Constitution prohibits any use of military force, including in a fund, except in self defense.
Moreover, Japan is engaged indirectly to the strengthening of regional capacity. Indeed, a $ 15 million budget devoted to piracy is used to support the implementation of the Code of Conduct Djibouti by the International Maritime Organisation (9). Now this organization is largely funded by Japan. Several areas have been defined by this code including the establishment of three information centers: Kenya (Mombasa), Tanzania (Dar Es Salaam), Yemen (Sanaa) and a training center in Djibouti. These centers will inform on attacks, damage, illegal immigration .... Construction Training Centre and documentation of the Coast Guard is expected to begin in October in Doraleh (Djibouti). If the EU supports the educational funding (1.5 million euros per year), Japan for its part provides direct funding to the tune of 4 million euros from the complex (lecture hall, refectory, dormitories) that will host in 2011 about sixty people from 22 countries (10) piracy because if affects the coasts of East Africa is also endemic in the Gulf of Guinea, for example ....( after January 20 )
2 Maintenance of the author in Djibouti June 5, 2010.
3 General Henri Paris, " None of the police reserve force and military force, "in Geostrategic, No. 26, 2010, p.67.
4 The budget is set at 1% of GDP (5180 billion in 2008). The country ranks fifth in the world (in absolute value).
5 In October 2007 the chemical tanker Golden Nori was released by pirates after a ransom demanded a million dollars in April 2008 the tanker Takayama was attacked with rocket launchers, an attempt to collision in February 2010 against a container. .. 6 The Sazanami
(DD-113 Takanami class) and Samidare (DD-106 Murasame Class) equipped with detection systems, transmission, SH-60J helicopter and 200 sailors.
7 Maintenance of the author in Addis Ababa 21 June 2010.
8 Nicolas Gros Verheyde, "18 months after the start of Atalanta. A final report, Brussels 2 in Blog, May 11, 2010.
9 The Code is available at: http://www.fco.gov.uk/resources/en/pdf/pdf9/piracy-djibouti-meeting
10 "In Djibouti, a training center for Coast Guard" , in Jeune Afrique, No. 2577 from May 30 to June 5, 2010.
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