Speech: Japan's Proactive Contribution to Peace: What it Means in Development | About JICA | JICA
As anyone familiar with Japanese politics knows, the current focus on Japan's security policy is the parliamentary deliberation on peace and security-related laws that allow limited exercises of the collective self-defense rights. The proposed legislation reflects the change in the government interpretation of the Constitution made about one year ago. Once passed, these laws could strengthen the alliance with the United States, enable quick responses to contingencies such as crises over remote islands, and make Japan's participation in UN peacekeeping operations more flexible than before. As such, these laws are in line with what Prime Minister Abe calls "Japan's proactive contribution to peace."
Today, I would like to argue that Japan's proactive contribution to peace is not limited to the activities of the Self Defense Forces and the military functions of the Japan-U.S. alliance. I would like to stress that development cooperation has also played and continues to play an important role in contributing to peace proactively. Obviously, development cooperation does not directly contribute to the defense of Japan or to the strengthening of the alliance, but it could improve the conditions of international security by helping fragile and conflict-affected countries in their socio-economic development as well as their peace-building efforts.
To illustrate what I mean, I would like to share five examples from JICA's activities.
First, Afghanistan. Japan has been committed to Afghanistan's development since 2001 and has provided 5.8 billion US dollars in total as of April 2015. We have assisted various sectors, including infrastructure, agriculture and rural development, public health and education. As we believe that human resource development is critical for good governance and socio-economic development, we are providing scholarships to 500 Afghan officials over a 6 year span to attend graduate schools in Japan.
My second example is our response to the refugee crisis caused by the Syrian civil war. We support Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey, all neighboring countries that are receiving large Syrian refugee populations. In Jordan, JICA is working with the Jordanian government to help both refugees and host communities meet their basic needs and protect their dignity. In terms of direct refugee support, we have provided post-traumatic care to children. We pay particular attention to the most vulnerable among them, notably children with disabilities. We are also providing medical equipment and school supplies to host communities. Japan also recently pledged to extend an additional ODA loan worth 200 million US dollars to Jordan for budget support to help the central government cope with this humanitarian crisis.
In Lebanon, we are planning to start a technical cooperation project to support the education of young refugees. Currently, the Lebanese government is making heroic efforts to provide elementary and middle school education to Syrian children through two-shift operations. Using the same school facilities, they have a morning shift for Lebanese children and an afternoon one for Syrian children. We plan to provide additional facilities and administrative assistance.
Turkey is also bearing the burden of the influx of Syrian refugees, especially in the provinces bordering Syria. That is why we have decided to extend a 375 million US dollars ODA loan to the Government of Turkey to improve local utility infrastructure, including water supply and sewage systems in the provinces bordering Syria.
Third, South Sudan. Japan deploys Self Defense Forces as UN peacekeepers in South Sudan. In addition, JICA has been working there since before the formal independence of the country, providing support to socio-economic development activities. We repaired many small bridges destroyed during the war in Juba, built a vocational training center, and repaired port facilities on the Nile River. We are now building a bridge over the Nile to replace the only existing bridge, a very fragile one that could collapse at any moment.
The fourth example is our post-disaster relief and reconstruction activities following the two earthquakes that shook Nepal in last April and May. We immediately dispatched Japan Disaster Relief Teams for rescue and medical operations. In addition to these emergency humanitarian operations, we started discussions with the Nepali government on full-fledged reconstruction and recovery by sending civil engineering experts in early May. Japan pledged to extend very concessional ODA loans worth 260 million US dollars for housing, school and other community facilities' reconstruction. Our staff is working hard so that housing reconstruction can start before the winter sets in there. Seismologists point out that there is still pent-up seismic pressure in the region surrounding Kathmandu. Though Kathmandu was not damaged very much this time, we believe that it is important to develop a reconstruction program to make the capital city more resilient against future earthquakes. We should not forget that Nepal is also a post-conflict country. It is important that the country be rebuilt inclusively so that reconstruction process becomes an opportunity to cooperate rather than become a source of renewed conflict.
The final example is Mindanao, in the Philippines. As you know, Mindanao has suffered from a prolonged conflict since the 1960s. There have been a series of attempts made to bring about lasting peace. Japan started its serious engagement in the middle of the first decade of the 21st century. Japan has participated in the International Contact Group and sent JICA staff to the International Monitoring Team (IMT). Our staff has acted as civilian members of the IMT and has coordinated our socio-economic cooperation with both the government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Based on such coordination, in 2006 JICA started a project called J-BIRD, Japan-Bansamoro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development. J-BIRD has provided community facilities, schools, vocational training for women, and farm roads in areas controlled by the government as well as by the MILF. In 2011, a breakthrough meeting secretly took place between President Aquino and MILF chairman Murado in Narita, Japan. The comprehensive peace agreement was finally reached in March 2014. Now the basic law to cement peace is under deliberation in the parliament. There are many tasks that need to be implemented for lasting peace, but Japan's diplomatic efforts and JICA's development cooperation have contributed to creating an environment that promotes peace in Mindanao. We are now engaged in projects of human capacity development for decommissioned soldiers of the MILF and training of future administrators of the Bansamoro government. We are planning more extensive and long-term development projects as well as quick-impact projects to let people realize that peace has finally come.
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As anyone familiar with Japanese politics knows, the current focus on Japan's security policy is the parliamentary deliberation on peace and security-related laws that allow limited exercises of the collective self-defense rights. The proposed legislation reflects the change in the government interpretation of the Constitution made about one year ago. Once passed, these laws could strengthen the alliance with the United States, enable quick responses to contingencies such as crises over remote islands, and make Japan's participation in UN peacekeeping operations more flexible than before. As such, these laws are in line with what Prime Minister Abe calls "Japan's proactive contribution to peace."
Today, I would like to argue that Japan's proactive contribution to peace is not limited to the activities of the Self Defense Forces and the military functions of the Japan-U.S. alliance. I would like to stress that development cooperation has also played and continues to play an important role in contributing to peace proactively. Obviously, development cooperation does not directly contribute to the defense of Japan or to the strengthening of the alliance, but it could improve the conditions of international security by helping fragile and conflict-affected countries in their socio-economic development as well as their peace-building efforts.
To illustrate what I mean, I would like to share five examples from JICA's activities.
First, Afghanistan. Japan has been committed to Afghanistan's development since 2001 and has provided 5.8 billion US dollars in total as of April 2015. We have assisted various sectors, including infrastructure, agriculture and rural development, public health and education. As we believe that human resource development is critical for good governance and socio-economic development, we are providing scholarships to 500 Afghan officials over a 6 year span to attend graduate schools in Japan.
My second example is our response to the refugee crisis caused by the Syrian civil war. We support Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey, all neighboring countries that are receiving large Syrian refugee populations. In Jordan, JICA is working with the Jordanian government to help both refugees and host communities meet their basic needs and protect their dignity. In terms of direct refugee support, we have provided post-traumatic care to children. We pay particular attention to the most vulnerable among them, notably children with disabilities. We are also providing medical equipment and school supplies to host communities. Japan also recently pledged to extend an additional ODA loan worth 200 million US dollars to Jordan for budget support to help the central government cope with this humanitarian crisis.
In Lebanon, we are planning to start a technical cooperation project to support the education of young refugees. Currently, the Lebanese government is making heroic efforts to provide elementary and middle school education to Syrian children through two-shift operations. Using the same school facilities, they have a morning shift for Lebanese children and an afternoon one for Syrian children. We plan to provide additional facilities and administrative assistance.
Turkey is also bearing the burden of the influx of Syrian refugees, especially in the provinces bordering Syria. That is why we have decided to extend a 375 million US dollars ODA loan to the Government of Turkey to improve local utility infrastructure, including water supply and sewage systems in the provinces bordering Syria.
Third, South Sudan. Japan deploys Self Defense Forces as UN peacekeepers in South Sudan. In addition, JICA has been working there since before the formal independence of the country, providing support to socio-economic development activities. We repaired many small bridges destroyed during the war in Juba, built a vocational training center, and repaired port facilities on the Nile River. We are now building a bridge over the Nile to replace the only existing bridge, a very fragile one that could collapse at any moment.
The fourth example is our post-disaster relief and reconstruction activities following the two earthquakes that shook Nepal in last April and May. We immediately dispatched Japan Disaster Relief Teams for rescue and medical operations. In addition to these emergency humanitarian operations, we started discussions with the Nepali government on full-fledged reconstruction and recovery by sending civil engineering experts in early May. Japan pledged to extend very concessional ODA loans worth 260 million US dollars for housing, school and other community facilities' reconstruction. Our staff is working hard so that housing reconstruction can start before the winter sets in there. Seismologists point out that there is still pent-up seismic pressure in the region surrounding Kathmandu. Though Kathmandu was not damaged very much this time, we believe that it is important to develop a reconstruction program to make the capital city more resilient against future earthquakes. We should not forget that Nepal is also a post-conflict country. It is important that the country be rebuilt inclusively so that reconstruction process becomes an opportunity to cooperate rather than become a source of renewed conflict.
The final example is Mindanao, in the Philippines. As you know, Mindanao has suffered from a prolonged conflict since the 1960s. There have been a series of attempts made to bring about lasting peace. Japan started its serious engagement in the middle of the first decade of the 21st century. Japan has participated in the International Contact Group and sent JICA staff to the International Monitoring Team (IMT). Our staff has acted as civilian members of the IMT and has coordinated our socio-economic cooperation with both the government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Based on such coordination, in 2006 JICA started a project called J-BIRD, Japan-Bansamoro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development. J-BIRD has provided community facilities, schools, vocational training for women, and farm roads in areas controlled by the government as well as by the MILF. In 2011, a breakthrough meeting secretly took place between President Aquino and MILF chairman Murado in Narita, Japan. The comprehensive peace agreement was finally reached in March 2014. Now the basic law to cement peace is under deliberation in the parliament. There are many tasks that need to be implemented for lasting peace, but Japan's diplomatic efforts and JICA's development cooperation have contributed to creating an environment that promotes peace in Mindanao. We are now engaged in projects of human capacity development for decommissioned soldiers of the MILF and training of future administrators of the Bansamoro government. We are planning more extensive and long-term development projects as well as quick-impact projects to let people realize that peace has finally come.
