Is an SDF base at Djibouti only option against piracy?

Japan Press Weekly

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Is an SDF base at Djibouti only option against piracy? - Akahata editorial

The government decided to prolong for another year the period of operations of the Self-Defense Forces off Somalia based on the law to counter piracy. The government is also building an SDF base in neighboring Djibouti at the cost of four billion yen, which will be completed in March 2011.

The base construction in Djibouti was initiated by the Liberal Democratic-Komei government in 2009, and the Democratic Party government is going forward with the construction to show its intent to continue with the anti-piracy operation as promised during the House of Councilors election campaign. The construction is aimed at extending the anti-piracy operations of the SDF and showing off Japan’s military strength abroad.

Attempt to enlarge privileges for SDF

At present, the SDF units sent to Somalia include an MSDF P3C anti-submarine patrol plane that is parked at a space rented from a Djibouti airport management company and the Grounds and Maritime SDF members who are lodging in housing for U.S. forces. The government plan is to build an aircraft apron, hangars, and housing units for the exclusive use of the SDF at a location adjacent to the Djibouti Airport, with the intent to use the facilities for more extensive SDF operations.

Japan managed to send the SDF to the sea off Somalia in 2009 by using the pretext to “counter” piracy in the region. The Japanese Constitution, however, does not allow the SDF to be sent abroad even to “counter” pirates. This is clear from the official government interpretation that the SDF is the minimum unit of organized force to defend Japan.

Pirates appear at large off Somalia because Somalia is politically unstable and lacking in solid economic activities. The need is to help Somalia to be reinstated politically and economically so as not to cause people to turn to piracy as a survival technique. Japan has a lot to work for this end. It is wrong for Japan to neglect support for genuine reconstruction of Somalia and instead strengthen the military response and build an SDF base in Djibouti.

Japan, the United States, and other major countries have sent warships and aircraft to the sea off Somalia, but these military operations failed to get rid of pirates. Instead, dangers from piracy are increasing. This shows that a military response has limitations in solving the piracy problems. We must also note that Japan’s base construction in Djibouti is in accordance with the U.S. military strategy.

The second report (2007) on the Japan-U.S. alliance, drafted by former U.S. deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage and others, demands that Japan play a leading part, saying that Japan has advanced capability connected to countering piracy. The latest U.S. quadrennial defense review published in February called on governments of other nations to cooperate in defending sea lanes from piracy.

A government source stated last year that the U.S. forces wanted Japan to have facilities on its own in order to expand operations. Construction of a base under these circumstances is an unmistakable strengthening of Japan’s military operations abroad at U.S. request.

Japan’s role should be to support real reconstruction

The status of forces agreement which the Japanese government concluded with the Djibouti government in 2009 in regard to sending SDF troops to Djibouti has several problems. The agreement virtually imposes on Djibouti Japan’s extra-territorial rights, such as the right for the SDF to take necessary means to protect the base and for Japan to exercise rights in any criminal trial involving an SDF member.

Other countries will inevitably be alarmed at Japan strengthening its military presence abroad. The government should stop the base construction in Djibouti, withdraw the SDF from there and help to solve the piracy problem by supporting reconstruction efforts in which Japan can constructively contribute.

- Akahata, July 20, 2010