The Global Forum of Japan (GFJ) E-Letter

15 August 2008, Vol. 1, No. 5

Greetings,

"The Global Forum of Japan (GFJ) E-Letter" is delivered electronically once every month, free of charge, to readers in the world interested in Japanese thinking on relations of Japan with the rest of the world and other related international affairs by the Global Forum of Japan (GFJ), private membership organization in Japan for  policy-oriented international exchanges.
  
It will provide the global audience with our news on "GFJ Commentary of the Month" and "GFJ Updates."

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"GFJ Commentary of the Month" presents a monthly publication of views of members of GFJ on relations of Japan with the rest of the world and other related  international affairs. The views expressed herein are the author's own and should not be attributed to GFJ.

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Promote Active Diplomacy in the Arctic Circle

                                           By KAWAI Masao
                                            Visiting Professor of Hakuoh University

The five coastal states of the Arctic Ocean held conference of Foreign Ministers in Greenland on May 27-29. In recent years, due to global warming, Arctic sea ice is melting very rapidly. It is estimated that the Arctic Ocean could be ice-free as early as the summer of 2013. The Arctic meltdown has given birth to a scramble among the Arctic states for seabed resources and sea lanes which will become accessible in the future. Russia and Norway applied to the UN Commission on Limits of Continental Shelf for their rights on continental shelf in the Arctic Ocean, while Canada announced the establishment of military facilities on an island of the Arctic Ocean.

Japan should have stronger concern about these developments. It is because the development of natural resources and sea lanes would be important for Japan from the viewpoint of securing resources and marine transportation. It is estimated that the Arctic Circle region holds a plenty of oil, natural gas, and mineral resources. The Northern Sea Route, if it is opened, would halve the distance between North European countries and Japan, compared with the route via the Suez Canal. Although it is not very well known, Norway is the third largest exporter of oil in the world and its production of natural gas is expected to increase in the future. The Northern Sea Route will make it possible for Japan to import these natural resources directly from Norway.

In fact, the Nippon Foundation of Japan, Fridtjof Nansen Institute of Norway, and Central Marine Research and Design Institute of Russia carried out an experimental voyaging by using Russian ships as a part of their joint research projects. It was the navigation guided by an icebreaker and calling at ports on the Russian coast. Although the navigation of this route is technically possible only during the three months of summer under the current level of marine technology, it might become possible throughout the year in the future. In addition, concerning the development of natural resources in the Arctic, there is a special treaty on Norwegian Svalbard Islands, so-called the " Svalbard Treaty."  There used to be territorial disputes over these islands. However, parties to this treaty have recognized Norwegian sovereignty over the islands while all parties have been also granted equal rights for commercial activities on the islands. Along with other 13 countries, Japan is a founding member of this treaty which was signed in 1920. This is the evidence suggesting that Japan paid considerable attention to the Arctic issues even before the World War II.

I visited these islands, which are located at 80 degrees north latitude and are covered by ice even during the summer, by invitation of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I found many countries engaged in various activities there. While Japan has been conducting an observation of the Arctic Circle by stationing researchers, Russia has been producing coals in several mines. Japan has a long history of interest in the Arctic Circle. Japan should put more emphasis on the economic activities in this region and seek to participate in international debates.

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For more views and opinions in the backnumber of "GFJ Commentary," the list of which for the past six months is as follows, please refer to:
http://www.gfj.jp/eng/commentary/backnumber.html

No.13 Japan Forlorn in the World

by MORI Toshimitsu, Adviser to a financial corporation
(16 May 2008)

No.12 New Movement of the International Whaling Commission

by OKAWARA Yoshio, Chairman of the Global Forum of Japan
(23 April 2008)

No.11 Unsustainable Chinese "Continental Shelf" Theory

by YUSHITA Hiroyuki, Chairman of the Global Forum of Japan
(19 March 2008)

No.10  JICA and Crisis Management: 34 Years

by NISHIKAWA Megumi, Foreign News Editor of Mainichi Newspapers
(6 February 2008)

No.9 Lessons for Peace Learned from Canadian Experience

by TAJIMA Takashi, Visiting Professor of Toyo Eiwa University
(22 January 2008)

No.8 The Global Warming Issue Reaches Boiling Point

by SUZUKI Keisuke, Member of the House of Representatives (Liberal Democratic Party of Japan)
(16 November 2007)

"GFJ Updates" introduces to you latest events, announcements and/or publications of GFJ.

The Global Forum of Japan (GFJ), under the co-sponsorship with ASEAN Institutes of Strategic and International Studies (ASEAN-ISIS), will convene "THE 7th JAPAN-ASEAN DIALOGUE : Prospect of Japan-ASEAN Partnership after the Second Joint Statement" in Tokyo on September 25, 2008. From ASEAN side, panelists including Clara JOEWONO, Deputy Executive Director of Center for Strategic and International Studies, and from Japan side, panelists including SHIMADA Haruo, Opinion Leader Governor of GFJ, AKAO Nobutoshi, Secretary General of ASEAN-Japan Centre will discuss the future prospect of Japan- ASEAN partnership towards an East Asian Community building. In view of making the most of the outcome of discussions, we work on policy recommendations which can be submitted to the respective governments of ASEAN and Japan as well as various fora between ASEAN and Japan. The Policy Recommendations Drafting Meeting, which is closed to the public, will be held on the following day of the open Dialogue.

Further information will soon be provided on our website  (http://www.gfj.jp/eng.htm)

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