MakePolicy.com

Japan’s border security continues to remain a critical issue. In the recently released Annual Report of the Japan Coast Guard two particular themes are highlighted. The first is a section dedicated to describing recent threats to Japan’s territory, saying unlawful activities and roaming by Chinese and Taiwanese ships have “breached Japan’s sovereignty.” The second issue discussed at length is that of the Somali pirates and Japan’s involvement in international efforts.
One of the most sensitive issues for Japan’s border security, revolves around the claim of sovereignty by Japan, China and Taiwan …

Japan has agreed to add two P-3C patrol aircraft to the antipiracy mission off Somalia. It will be the first time for P-3C planes to be dispatched on an overseas mission.
The mission will involve about 150 personnel, including the air crews and Ground Self-Defense Force personnel who will guard the airport, according to the ministry. In addition, the Air Self-Defense Force will transport personnel and necessary supplies to the airport.
The P-3C aircraft will complement two MSDF destroyers that have been conducting escort missions for Japan-linked commercial ships in the pirate-infested …

More threats from North Korea!
This time they want the UN to apologise for condemning the regimes rocket launch on April 5 2009. North Korea’s foreign ministry has demanded that the 15-member UN council immediately apologise for “infringing” the country’s sovereignty and retract “all its resolutions and decisions” against the North. If an apology is not issued then NK has threatened that the diplomatic stakes will be raised. A spokesman from North Korea has said that this will possibly include both nuclear and ballistic missile tests.
So why is NK playing so …

How strongly does the unresolved issue of kidnapped Japanese citizens complicate relations in the North East Asian region? Domestic pressure from the so-called rachhi jiken contributes strongly to Japanese Government policy towards North Korea. For those that are not aware of these issues – take a look at this recent publication.
North Korea – often known as the Hermit Kingdom only acknowledged these kidnappings in 2002. They explained that the reason for the kidnappings were to educate North Korean spies in Japanese language and customs. It was so that the agents …

Pakistan is playing the failing state card and it is reaping enormous international aid. Pakistan is a useful strategic player to the external powers in the region and as such as drawn in the largest ever flow of foreign aid – led by Tokyo and the US.
But Pakistan is not the only failing state in the world. Nor is it the only state which poses potential security threats – take Somalia, North Korea and Zimbabwe to name a few.
Global committment to economic and military resources for Pakistan …

A billion dollars in aid to Pakistan over two years. That is a huge donation from Japan to try and assist the stabilisation of the Pakistani economy and to aid the fight against terrorism. It is also a large portion – in fact a quarter – of the total package pledged by about 40 countries and international organisations over the same period. It is a strong commitment to global security initiatives by the Japanese government.
It is also an important lever in any discussion that could lead to friction in the …

The power of nuclear power is one issue that makes the international community stand up and take note. This is the strategy that the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is pursuing in advancing Iran’s nuclear program. On Thursday he indicated that his country would not suspend its enrichment of uranium.

For the developed world, Irans pursuit of nuclear power is highly contentious. It appears that Iran has 7,000 centrifuges. These concentrate uranium gas are used as fuel to power a reactor or, in a highly enriched form, for a nuclear weapon. And …

The news coming out of the UK is troubling. There have been high profile counter-terror raids in the North West of the country with several arrests being made. The alleged plotters supposedly discussed the Easter bank holiday as possible dates for the plot to be carried out. This of course is one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year. Let us hope that the actions of the British police have thwarted these plans.
I am making a link to WorldThreats.com which highlights this would-be Easter Plot. I will follow the …

A US warship has reached the Somali coast to aid a cargo ship seized by Somali pirates. The ship has been recaptured by its crew but the captain is believed to be being held hostage by the pirates. These kind of pirate attacks have been increasing rapidly. There were more than 130 incidents reported in 2008.
The pirates typically hold the ships and crews until large ransoms are paid by the shipping companies – last year the firms handed over about $80m (£54m). The attacks are threatening to destabilise one of …