The Japan Coast Guard---Maintaining Maritime Order
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FEATURE Expanding Partnerships, Promoting Stability The Japan Coast Guard---- Maintaining Maritime Order particular emphasis on those in the Indo-Pacific region. It aims to maintain the maritime order Graduates of the Maritime Safety and Security Top right: Yoshioka instructing Vietnamese maritime police Policy Program from the Philippines, Indonesia, offi cers during an on-board inspection. Japan, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka pay a courtesy Bottom right: Formed in October 2017, the MCT is a group of visit to Prime Minister Abe (August 2018) professionals with special skills. The team provides customized training as per the wishes of other countries in Asia. for junior coast guard officers in started in 2015. NOHARA Masako from the Philippine Coast Guard, Asian countries. In this one-year a female JCG junior officer who said, “In Japan, I was able to develop program, junior officers from the JCG completed the program as a third- the decisiveness, dynamism and and other coast guard organizations year student last year, says, “By communication skills necessary take courses in international law, talking with international students, for my work. The human network international relations, maritime we have learned about the systems that has been created is something Rubber boat training for the Philippine Coast Guard in 2017. The white hull is one of the ships that Japan has granted since 2016. police policy, and other relevant and activities of coast guards from we treasure. We can continue to subjects at the National Graduate different countries, and have built cultivate these precious ties, further Institute for Policy Studies and the a human network.” strengthening the relationship ith the rise in maritime the rule of law and strengthening searches on female suspects during Japan Coast Guard Academy. Along With the globalization of maritime of trust that exists between coast Wthreats, such as ties in the region. The model being on-board inspections, and in August, with international students from crime and the worsening scale of guards to ensure maritime order in terrorism, smuggling, and conflicts used for such organizations is the she helped give instruction on Asian countries, students learn natural disasters, it is becoming accordance with international law.” among nations over maritime Japan Coast Guard (JCG) established cardiopulmonary resuscitation and how to deal with all the various increasingly difficult for individual Through the work of the MCT interests, countries in the Indo- in 1948. search and rescue in Palau. “I think issues that arise at sea, having the countries to resolve maritime issues and the master’s program, the JCG Pacific region have each set up new In October 2017, the JCG formed I’ve been able to contribute to the opportunity to acquire professional by themselves. Paying a courtesy is building a network that spans coast guard organizations aiming to a dedicated team, called the Mobile work of the MCT by sharing what knowledge and analytical skills. visit to Japanese Prime Minister borders, working to maintain maintain maritime order based on Cooperation Team (MCT), to help I’ve done in the field with people A total of 40 students have ABE Shinzo in August 2018, Glen maritime order worldwide. improve the capabilities of local from various countries,” explains enrolled since the program first B. Daraug, one of the first students coast guards in other countries. Yoshioka. MCT officials with specialist skills While the JCG has been providing in search and rescue, maritime law assistance to improve coast guard enforcement and environmental capabilities based on the demands Record of countries disaster prevention are dispatched from other countries over several involved in MCT dispatches to these countries to give intensive decades, it was the establishment and the master’s degree Japan training for one or two weeks. of a dedicated MCT that has made it program in Japan As of September 2019, the MCT possible to provide more continuous Pakistan has so far been dispatched 34 and effective support while building India times in 11 countries. In response relationships of trust on a daily basis. Viet Nam to the growing demand from other As well as providing this kind of Countries accept MCT Philippines Thailand countries, the number of officers has support in the field, the JCG is also Djibouti Coast guards who play an important role, such as Countries send students to take part in the increased from 7 to 10 in 2019, with investing much time and manpower Sri Lanka Palau the junior offi cer Nohara (left), and Yoshioka, who master’s program Malaysia Brunei became the MCT’s fi rst female coordinator, are being the first female dispatch coordinator, into developing coast guard officers. trained in large numbers. The ratio of female offi cers YOSHIOKA Yu, joining the team. This work is manifested in the Both of the above Seychelles in JCG has nearly doubled in 10 years. “I want to try new things to be a role model for other women,” On being dispatched to Viet Nam Maritime Safety and Security Policy Indonesia remarks Nohara. in June, Yoshioka carried out body Program, a master’s degree program 14 15.