JAPAN-ASEAN SECURITY CO-OPERATION
Recommendations from a Team of Experts
October 2005

Produced at:
Japan-ASEAN Workshop for Team of Experts on Security Cooperation between Japanand ASEAN, 7-8 October 2005, Traders Hotel, Singapore
Co-organizers:
Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS)
Nanyang Technological University
South Spine S4, Level B4, Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798
Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA)
Kasumigaseki building, 11F
3-2-5 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan 100-6011

Introduction
A team of security experts, in their private capacity, studied possible measures toenhance security cooperation and partnership between Japan and ASEAN countries, on
7 and 8 October 2005 in Singapore. Their discussion was based on the “Japan-ASEAN
Security Co-operation: Recommendations from a Team of Experts” which was
produced at the Second Japan-ASEAN Security Symposium on 27-28 October 2004 andsubmitted to the leaders at the Japan-ASEAN Summit Meeting on 30 November inVientiane, the Laos People’s Democratic Republic. This 2004 policy recommendations
paper was produced by a team of security experts, pursuant to Section C.,“Strengthening Political and Security Cooperation and Partnership,” of The
Japan-ASEAN Plan of Action attached to The Tokyo Declaration for the Dynamic andEnduring Japan-ASEAN Partnership in the New Millennium, in December 2003.
Seven critical security challenges to be addressed jointly by Japan and ASEAN wereidentified in the 2004 policy recommendation paper, and thus explored in depth in thetwo meetings this year by a team of security experts: (1) Maritime Safety and Security;(2) International Terrorism; (3) Transnational Crimes; (4) Military Modernisation and1

Weapons of Mass Destruction; (5)Peace Operation; (6) Infectious Diseases andEnvironmental and Natural Disasters; and (7) Institutional Arrangements forJapan-ASEAN Security Co-operation. The Singapore meeting reviewed these proposals
with a view to identify specific cooperative measures and challenges involved in theimplementation of these measures.
Recommendations
1. Maritime Safety and Security
The team of security experts notes that a number of piracy and armed robbery incidents
at sea found worldwide have taken place for the last several years in Southeast Asia. To
meet such grave security threats from piracy and armed robbery at sea, the team hereby
recommends that Japan and ASEAN countries:
1.

Co-operate in strengthening patrol and surveillance to enhance maritime
security in Southeast Asia;
2. Improve the regional reporting systems on piracy for more effective andco-ordinated counter operations;
3. Increase further Japan’s contribution to strengthening capacity of ASEAN
countries’ relevant agencies, including their coast guards, by providing vessels
with necessary weaponry and training of personnel;
4. Promote exchanges and communications to enhance co-operation among Japanand ASEAN countries’ coast guards, navies and/or other relevant authorities;
5. Intensify further experts meetings and joint exercises among the relevant
authorities of Japan and ASEAN countries;
6. Establish a list of operational contact points of Japan and ASEAN countries
among the relevant authorities that will facilitate information exchange and the
conduct of joint exercises;
7. Accelerate the implementation of the Regional Co-operation Agreement on
Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships;
8. Continue upgrading the security of ports and the strengthening of institutions
for good governance at sea among Japan and ASEAN countries;
9. Enhance further co-operation in strengthening capacity in the areas ofinterdiction and boarding techniques, and of law-enforcement in accordancewith international law through legal training for law enforcement officials; and10. Expand bilateral and regional maritime security co-operation, such as searchand rescue, mine sweeping, submarine rescue and other security measures tostrengthen good governance at sea.
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2. International Terrorism
The team of security experts notes that there can be no justification for acts of terrorism
and welcome the close co-operation in countering terrorism between Japan and theASEAN countries. Nonetheless, in view of continuing security threats from terrorist
attacks, the team hereby recommends that Japan and ASEAN countries:
1.
2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Explore approaches to counter terrorist propaganda, such as through the use of
ICT systems;
Expand co-operation in tackling potential root causes of international terrorism,
such as poverty, political oppression, human rights abuses and the policies ofmajor powers in the Middle East;
Strengthen the legal infrastructure for co-operation to combat terrorism, such as
criminalisation of terrorism and extradition of those involved on a reciprocal
basis;
Enhance information and intelligence sharing for effective law enforcement
and to disrupt terrorist operations such as raising and moving funds for theiroperations;
Build capacity of police, aviation, immigration, customs and other relevant
agencies’ personnel through bilateral and/or regional joint training andseminars, involving those organisations, such as the Southeast Asia Regional
Centre for Counter-terrorism (SEARCCT) in Malaysia, the Indonesia Centre
for Law Enforcement Co-operation (ICLEC) in Indonesia and the International
Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR) in Singapore;
Develop programmes to strengthen national capacity to restrict and trace
movement of terrorists and develop standard regulations regarding thelegitimate use of biological and chemical materials; andPool resources and invigorate inter-agency collaboration and co-operation indeveloping new equipment and technologies in such areas as advanced
passenger information (API), machine readable passport/visa (MRPV) andbiometric technology.

3. Transnational Crimes
The team of security experts notes that transnational crimes continue to be security
threats to the region. To step up efficacy in meeting such security threats fromtransnational crimes, the team hereby recommends that Japan and ASEAN countries:31. Develop more effective exchanges of information and intelligence sharing;
2. Create database on transnational crimes which include typology studies todetermine trends of modus operandi of cross-border criminals in the region;
3. Enhance capacity of officials and relevant agencies to combat transnational
crimes, such as through regional training programmes for preventing flow offunds into the hands of terrorists and for protecting witnesses;
4. Strengthen legal infrastructure for conducting joint and combined operations incombating transnational crimes;
5. Compare laws of countries and strengthen legislation to suppress transnational
crimes;6. Utilise advanced technology, such as information satellites and modern
surveillance aircraft to enhance detection and surveillance capabilities;
7. Promote public awareness and participation through TV and other mass media
and education systems; and8. Enhance public and private sector co-operation in the region for effective
suppression of transnational crimes.
4. Military Modernisation and Weapons of Mass Destruction
The team of security experts believes that military modernisation and proliferation of
weapons of mass destruction, together with the slow progress of disarmament, aresecurity concerns and even threats to Japan and ASEAN countries. Thus, the teamrecommends that Japan and ASEAN countries:
1.
2.

3.
4.
5.
6.

Increase transparency through exchange of information, including
standardisation of defence white papers, and exchanges of defence personnel;
Establish effective export control systems for weapons of mass destruction andtheir means of delivery as a high priority and ensure its effective
implementation, which should include internal export control mechanisms
within the private sector;
Build capacity to interdict shipment carrying WMDs and their delivery
systems;
Enhance security trade controls among ASEAN countries and with Japan;
Establish a study group to recommend more effective measures to prevent
nuclear proliferation and accelerate nuclear disarmament; andStrengthen and promote dialogue to share information on militarymodernisation and acquisition, as well as transportation and accumulation of
weapons of mass destruction.
45. Peace Operations
The team of security experts notes that peace operations have become more complex
and multi-dimensional to cover peace making, peacekeeping and peace building.
These require comprehensive and integrated approach to respond to challenges to peace.
The team recommends that Japan and ASEAN countries:
1.
2.

3.

4.

Develop, through co-operative efforts, conflict prevention and mediation roles
for peace making;Encourage the establishment of national PKO training centres in all ASEAN
countries, and set up a network of collaboration among them for the purpose of(i) sharing experiences and doctrines about peace keeping, (ii) strengthening
capacity building for personnel, and (iii) upgrading interoperability, throughjoint training and provision of facilities;
Explore ways to set up an ASEAN-Japan PKO training centre in Southeast
Asia to share experiences and knowledge, and foster confidence among thetrainees from the military, the police and other relevant government agencies,
as well as civil society; andJointly study and develop comprehensive peace building measures, including
the establishment of a peace building fund.

6. Infectious Diseases and Environmental and Natural Disasters
The team of security experts notes that infectious diseases, and natural andenvironmental disasters, exemplified by SARS, tsunami and haze, are both economic
and human security threats. To meet such threats, the team of security experts
recommends that Japan and ASEAN countries:
1.

Intensify co-operation to combat infectious diseases through increased
surveillance, reporting, training of medical experts, R&D, stockpiling andassistance in medication;
2. Explore co-operative mechanisms to respond swiftly to natural calamities,
such as earthquakes, typhoons, flash flooding and tsunamis, including
establishing a regional protocol for dispatching and receiving emergency
rescue and disaster relief units, and introducing early warning systems;
3. Build capacity for each country to respond to such disasters, especially throughco-operation in joint rescue training/exercises;
4. Establish contingency programmes to prepare for any future occurrences ofsuch natural calamities through strengthening national capacity, including5

development of escape routes, methods of evacuation and public training andeducation;
5. Explore ways of co-operation, strengthen networks for information exchanges,
and increase public awareness, to prevent and respond effectively to
deforestation, haze, acid rain, marine pollution and other environmental
disasters;
6. Study possible roles of military institutions in tackling with natural disasters,
bearing in mind their resources and responsiveness;
7. Establish co-ordination among relevant agencies, coast guards, meteorological,
health, police, budget offices to meet effectively disasters; and8. Involve effectively private sectors’ participation, including NGOs, inestablishing contingency programmes.
7. Institutional Arrangements for Japan-ASEAN Security Co-operation
The team of security experts recognises that security threats change due to the fluid
regional and global security environment, and that constant review of co-operation
measures and their implementation would, therefore, be required. Mechanisms toassess and respond to the threats should be established. The team recommends thatJapan and ASEAN countries:
1.

2.
3.
4.

Establish expeditiously the “Japan-ASEAN Security Forum” (JASeF) at track
II level, that would constitute a platform for Japan and ASEAN countries (i) to
exchange information and evaluation on security threats in the region, (ii) toreview the implementation of co-operative measures already agreed, and (iii) topropose new areas of co-operation between Japan and ASEAN;
Ensure funding for JASeF activities through the Japan-ASEAN General
Exchange Fund (JAGEF) on a three-year budget basis;
Expand the Japan-ASEAN Forum to include participants from relevant
ministries and agencies; andExpand Japan-ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting to include defence officials,
for the purpose of strengthening further Japan-ASEAN security cooperation
amongst others.

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LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

Brunei1. Mrs Hajjah Maimunah DATO HJ ELIAS
Deputy Permanent Secretary
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Cambodia
2. Dr CHAP Sotharith
Executive Director
Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace
3. Mr HAM Samnang
Senior Research Fellow
Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace
4. Brigadier General EM Ma Ory
Deputy Cabinet Director
Headquarter, Royal Cambodian Armed Forces
Ministry of National Defense
Indonesia
5. Mr Jusuf WANANDI
Member, Board of Directors
Centre for Strategic and International Studies
6. Dr Rizal SUKMA
Director of Studies
Centre for Strategic and International StudiesJapan
7. Dr Makio MIYAGAWA
Director
Japan Institute of International Affairs
8. Professor Tsutomu KIKUCHI
Aoyama Gakuin University
79. Mr. Yoshitaka TOI
Director
International Affairs and Crisis Management Division
Administration Department, Japan Coast Guard
10. Mr Shuji SHIMAMURA
Captain, Arms Control Section, J-5
Joint Staff Office, Japan Defense Agency
11. Mr. Masashi YAMANO
Deputy Director, Regional Policy Division
Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
12. Mr Takehiko KAJITA
Senior Research Fellow
Japan Institute of International Affairs
13. Mr Narihiro BONO
Research Fellow
Japan Institute of International Affairs
14. Mr Susumu TAKONAIFirst Secretary, Political Section
Embassy of Japan, Singapore
Laos
15. Major Khamkhong INTHILATH
Deputy Director of ASEAN Division
Foreign Relations Department
Ministry of National Defense
16. Mr Santi INTHISONE
Deputy Director of Division
Institute of Foreign Affairs
Malaysia
17. Dato Mohamed Jawhar HASSAN
Director-General
Institute of Strategic and International Studies

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Myanmar
18. Col Win NAING
Senior Military Officer
National Defence College
19. Dr Maung Aung MYOE
Department of International Relations
University of Mandalay
Philippines
20. Professor Carolina HERNANDEZ
Chair, Board of Directors
Institute for Strategic and Development Studies
Professor of Political Science
University of the Philippines
21. Dr Noel MORADA
Executive Director
Institute for Strategic and Development Studies
Singapore
22. Mr Barry DESKER
Director
Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies
23. Mr KWA Chong Guan
Head (External Programmes)
Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies
24. Dr Mely CABALLERO ANTHONY
Assistant Professor
Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies
25. Dr Bernard LOO
Assistant Professor
Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies
26. Dr Hiro Katsumata
Research Fellow and Academic Seminar Coordinator
Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies
9Thailand
27. Dr Kusuma SNITWONGSE
Chairperson, Advisory Board
Institute of Security and International Studies
28. Maj Gen Wisith JEANGPRAJAK
Director General, Strategic Research InstituteNational Defense Studies InstituteVietnam
29. Dr HOANG Tuan Anh
Deputy Director-General
Institute for International Relations
30. Senior Col HOANG Van Dinh
Senior Researcher
Institute for Defence International Relations
Other Participant
32. Mr Jeremy TAN Khen Gee
Assistant Director, ASEAN Directorate
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore

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