Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Japan will host the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) Maritime Interdiction exercise “Pacific Shield 25” in Tokyo and the sea and airspace off the coast of Chiba Prefecture from Dec. 2-4, Japan’s Foreign Ministry has announced.

A PSI Operational Experts Group (OEG) meeting will also take place in Tokyo on Dec. 5.

The Proliferation Security Initiative is an international effort to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, ballistic missiles, and related materials that threaten international peace and stability. It does not target specific states or non-state actors. Japan has participated since the initiative’s inception in 2003. 

According to Japan’s Foreign Ministry, “It enhances national capabilities and awareness, facilitates information exchange, and reaches out to non-participating countries through training, meetings, workshops, and other activities.”

December’s training exercise will be conducted as part of the Asia-Pacific Exercise Rotation established at the 10th Anniversary Meeting of the PSI in 2013. Participants from Japan will include relevant ministries and agencies such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Police Agency, Ministry of Finance (Customs), Japan Coast Guard, and Ministry of Defense/ Self-Defense Forces. Australia, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, and the United States, Observer participation has been invited from countries primarily in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Foreign Ministry statement said: “This exercise holds significant importance, not only for strengthening cooperation among participating nations and relevant organizations but also as a demonstration of the international community’s strong resolve to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.”

This will mark the fifth time Japan has hosted a PSI exercise, following the maritime interdiction exercise “Team Samurai 04” in October 2004, the maritime interdiction exercise “Pacific Shield 07” in October 2007, the air interdiction exercise “Pacific Shield 12” in July 2012, and the maritime interdiction exercise “Pacific Shield 18” in July 2018.