Suchergebnisse

Japan's move to relax its self-imposed convention on the prohibition of defence related exports was announced by the Ministry of Defence on the 27'" December 2011. Japan's policy revision is timely and welcome for Australia as the Australian Defence Force continues with an ambitious modernisation programme. Japan's policy revision in relation to defence exports is the culmination in a process of incremental and pragmatic efforts at ameliorating its declining strategic advantage in an increasingly uncertain geostrategic environment. The shift of balance inherent in the strategic environment, the increasing costs of advancements in defence capability development, and increasingly constrained defence budgets has compounded with Japan's decades long economic malaise and languishing defence industrial base. It could be said that such a policy revision regarding defence exports was inevitable. Due to these factors it is likely that the policy revision can be relied upon to maintain forward momentum. However, due to the internal inertia of Japanese politics the policy revision will progress incrementally and perhaps on a case-by-case basis. Nevertheless, Australia's and Japan's convergent strategic drivers, interests and geostrategic characteristics transfer that Japan's defence solutions may be more suitable than other foreign solutions designed for continental defence. However, because Japan's defence industries have been domestically orientated and restricted by Japan's security policies they are not in a position to rapidly initiate immediate and extensive defence exports. While it could take a decade for Japan to become competitive in the international defence export market, there are some immediate contributions Japan's defence industries could provide Australia that are cost-effective and highly capable. Japan's defence Industries are particularly proficient in naval shipbuilding, missile development and electronics systems design. Notwithstanding this, the greatest prospects for broadening the security relationship into the realm of defence procurement and development is in the possibilities for future joint-development of defence capability between Australia and Japan, and possibly others. In the long-term Japan may very well develop into a prime supplier of cost-effective OTS defence solutions for Australia's defence forces. The first task is for Australia to initiate engagement with Japan and Japan's defence industries to develop a cooperative government-to-government and defence-to-defence discussion. Patience is required on Australia's part and a pragmatic approach will be necessary: substantial results should not be expected nor relied upon, at least initially. From here Australia and Japan can develop an intergovernmental framework for engagement regarding defence materiel procurement opportunities for which Australia might like to pursue. The greatest benefits in broadening the defence relationship to procurement are the possibilities for joint-development. Where Australia's and Japan's capability requirements are in convergence joint-development opportunities should be explored. Australia must communicate its capability requirements to Japan's defence industry and Japan must come to understand Australia capability requirements if the relationship is to extend into the area of defence development and procurement. Australia should investigate Japan's defence solutions that would be appropriate for Australia's defence needs and capability requirements in current Defence Capability Plan documents projects. For example Japan's Siiryu-class submarines for SEA 1000 and its AAM-48 air-to-air missiles for AIR 6000 Phase 5 are highlighted as a distinct possibility for Australia's defence solutions and should be further investigated. Australia should reinforce its Japanese language skills to facilitate crosscultural defence exchange and develop effective communication. Language skills are time consuming and difficult skill to obtain. Therefore the importance of language should be recognised from the outset and consistently supported.