## (3) Promoting Measures Against Suspicious Vessels and Spy Ships

It is well known that suspicious vessels and spy ships are probably engaged in serious crime in Japan, and it is need to stop them for inspection in order to shed light on their objectives and activities. In case any illegal activities are found, it needs to carry out a proper criminal investigation. For this reason, in response to suspicious vessels and spy ships, the Japan Coast Guard which is the policing organization deals with them as the primary agency.

The Japan Coast Guard conducts various training as well as stronger ties with relevant ministries and agencies to exchange information, and thereby strives to detect suspicious vessels and spy ships early as well as to maintain and improve capabilities to cope with them.

## (4) Promoting Measures against Maritime Crimes

Some major characteristics of recent maritime crimes include a diversity of non-fishermen casually engaging in maritime poaching crimes as well as organized criminals seeking sources of funding and environmental crimes such as illegal dumping of waste into the ocean to save processing costs and its characteristics are becoming more malicious and sophisticated. Also, for domestic crimes involving firearms and drugs, there are some that are closely related to smuggling crimes facilitated by Japanese criminal organizations and international crime syndicates along with illegal transit facilitated by international crime syndicates.

Regarding various maritime crimes, there is still a need for vigilance and the Japan Coast Guard is strengthening monitoring and prosecution, gathering and analyzing crime information, and strengthening site inspections by effectively utilizing patrol ships and aircraft as well as sharing information with relevant domestic and international organizations as part of the efforts to pursue effective measures and take strict yet appropriate measures against maritime crimes.

## 4 Protecting Our Country’s Interests in Maritime Rights

## (1) Security Activities to Protect Maritime Interests

Recently, there have been cases where official vessels from China and Taiwan have encroached upon Japanese territorial waters and through their activities have sought to stake territorial claims in the seas around the Senkaku Islands. Particularly since the acquisition and maintenance of three of the islands (Uotsuri Island, Kitakojima Island, and Minamikojima Island), in September 2012, there are cases where official vessels from China have approached and intruded upon the seas surrounding the Senkaku Islands. Activists have also intensified their efforts to assert claims on the islands.

Also, in the Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone in the East China Sea and other waters, foreign oceanographic research vessels are conducting surveys without Japan’s consent.

In response to these tense conditions, the Japan Coast Guard advanced legislative changes to strengthen maritime policing powers including the improvement and strengthening of prosecution powers of Japan Coast Guard officers among other measures by coming into force the “Law for the Partial Revision of the Japan Coast Guard Act and the Law on Navigation of Foreign Ships through the Territorial Sea and Internal Waters,” in September 2012. Additionally, the security system of territorial sea is being strengthened by conducting appropriate patrols on territorial sea by patrol vessels and aircraft as well as monitoring and vigilance activities in Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone to ensure Japan’s sovereignty and protect maritime rights.

## (2) Promoting Maritime Surveys in Territorial Waters and the Exclusive Economic Zone and Consolidating Maritime Information

In our country’s territorial waters and the exclusive economic zone there are waters lacking adequate survey data and the Japan Coast Guard is conducting intensive maritime surveys in these waters including submarine topography, crustal structure, and the baselines of territorial waters to strategically and continuously implement the development of basic information that will contribute to the safety of ship traffic, protecting our country’s maritime rights, and maritime development. Also, under the comprehensive coordination of the Headquarters for Ocean Policy Secretariat, Cabinet Secretariat the “Maritime Information Clearinghouse”, which aggregates the gathering, management, and provision of maritime information, is being operated. Additionally, the “Maritime Cadastre” was developed which is a web service that can overlay information on maps and allows general users to utilize various natural information (submarine