THE SASAKAWA PEACE FOUNDATION

Japan-China Security Symposium

10,900,000 yen (Grant project)
China Association for International Friendly Contact (CAIFC, China)

Japan and China have had great influences on the Asia Pacific region, and it would be useful not only for those two countries but for the entire Asia Pacific region that both countries deepen their mutual understanding and build bases for cooperation in the area of national security. However, governmental exchange in the national security area has not been going well under the current situation of political discord between the two countries, and confidence building in the area of national security has become a very urgent issue. Since 2000, SPF has been organizing symposia every year to provide opportunities for dialogue between officers from the two countries in the national security area. This year, the symposium will be held to promote more working-level dialogue with more participants, especially with authors of China’s National Defense paper and Japan’s White Paper on Defense. The results of the discussion including the minutes of the symposium and proposals will be presented to both governments with an aim of building bases for track I dialogue thorough track II activities. The following activities are planned this year.

Japan Visit (October, 2006)
A group of four Chinese defense officers will visit Japan and determine discussion themes with the Japan team.
North East Asia Security Forum (November 20 and 21, 2006, Tokyo)
1) Participants: 17 including Japanese and Chinese defense officers and experts, as well as the authors of China’s Defense paper and Japan’s White paper.
2) Forum: Each theme will be discussed at a sectional meeting on the first day, and a general meeting will be held to adopt proposals on the second day.
3) Theme: Current security situation of North East Asia including transparency of the defense papers, and the roles of Japan-US alliance and the Self Defense Force.
During the Japan Visit, the Chinese Delegate will visit defense facilities in Tokyo, Nagasaki, and Sasebo, and meet Japanese defense officers.
Post-symposium activity
Proposals and minutes of the symposium will be presented to relevant departments of the Chinese and Japanese governments.

(A one-year project)