International competition, conflicts, and confrontation over ocean areas never cease. But why? Does a path towards resolution exist? Is Japan responding effectively? I here present an overview of the conflicts arising in the seas of East Asia. If these maritime power games continue it is feared that unforeseen situations might arise and escalate. I look forward to positive action that might overcome such crises.

On 7 May 2019, Finland handed over the Chairmanship of the Arctic Council to Iceland at its 11th Ministerial Meeting in Rovaniemi, Finland. The Icelandic Chairmanship runs for two years (2019-2021), until the next Ministerial meeting. Iceland will co-host the third Arctic Science Ministerial Meeting (ASM3) with Japan to discuss increased international collaboration on Arctic science, which was originally scheduled to be held in November 2020 but postponed to May 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ＊ The text content has been partially updated from the Japanese version.
Selected Papers No.25

In the days before national maritime infrastructures were in place, “maritime power” consisted of seafaring groups who by guarding their territories helped secured navigation routes. However, as government expanded the scope of its managerial activities throughout the country, those territories became the state’s territorial waters. Thinking about the history of maritime power can provide different and more flexible perspectives on the question of territorial waters issues, about which discussions too often lapse into long familiar patterns.