On April 16, Japan’s Maritime Self-Protection Drive (MSDF) introduced their 2024 Indo-Pacific Deployment (IPD 24), which can final from Might 3 to December 15. The deployment marks the longest IDP up to now and can embrace each 26,000-ton helicopter-carrying destroyers, JS Kaga and JS Izumo, for the primary time.
Six warships, two P-1 maritime patrol plane, a particular boarding staff, and submarines assigned to eight activity teams will deploy in whole.
The drive goals to enhance the MSDF’s tactical proficiency and interoperability with allies whereas contributing to regional stability via enhancing mutual understanding with companion navies.
Job teams will do that by taking part in eight workout routines and visiting not less than 13 international locations. 9 of the 13 scheduled visits are to Oceania nations.
2024 marks the third yr Japan has prioritized Oceania engagement in the course of the deployment. IPD 22 and 23 every visited eight Oceania nations and took part in a number of regional workout routines, together with Pacific Partnership 2023.
The Oceania emphasis is a part of Japan’s effort to enhance regional engagement, particularly on safety issues, as demonstrated by the March 2024 Japan-Pacific Islands Protection Dialogue. Considerations about China’s elevated presence within the Western Pacific doubtless drive a few of Japan’s efforts.
Concurrent with the Oceania outreach is the “accelerated” use of the MSDF as a diplomatic instrument to advertise a positive safety atmosphere and foster a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP). This marks a more recent function for the MSDF.
Traditionally, MSDF naval engagements had been restricted to abroad coaching cruises for latest graduates of the Officer Coaching Faculty. The primary coaching cruise occurred in 1957, three years after the MSDF’s institution. The annual cruises uncovered the brand new officers to the world and promoted pleasant relations throughout port visits.
After the Chilly Battle, lively participation in multilateral organizations just like the Western Pacific Naval Symposium offered the MSDF a discussion board for engagement on regional maritime safety issues.
A big shift in naval diplomacy occurred following the Nationwide Protection Program Guideline for Fiscal 12 months 2005, in addition to the 2009 regulation on “Punishment of and Measures towards Acts of Piracy.” These pointers required the MSDF to actively interact internationally by conducting peacetime regional maritime operations like counterpiracy and catastrophe aid. The regulation additionally enabled the MSDF to guard transport globally and take part in worldwide counter-piracy operations.
Japan deployed its first counterpiracy drive in February 2009. The brand new mission demonstrated Japanese dedication to the worldwide system and considerably elevated naval diplomacy alternatives. The MSDF has continuously taken benefit of those deployments to go to ports all through the Indo-Pacific area.
Japan applied the IPD in 2017. The deployment supported Japan’s new FOIP technique by selling regional peace and stability via naval engagement. Given the diplomatic significance, the deployment’s coaching and visits had been chosen primarily based on international coverage necessities. The entire-of-government method additionally represented a change in naval diplomacy, because the Ministry of Protection had nearly solely selected earlier efforts.
In 2019, the IDP operated within the South China Sea, taking part in a number of workout routines. These workout routines signaled Japan’s willingness to maintain the established order within the face of unilateral challenges. This strategic messaging complemented Japan’s emphasis on ASEAN. Later within the yr, an up to date Japan-ASEAN safety initiative outlined alternatives for nearer cooperation and assist for FOIP. Tokyo’s efforts underscored its rising significance to Southeast Asia.
Regardless of scale-backed IPD engagements in the course of the worldwide unfold of COVID-19, the MSDF nonetheless prioritized ASEAN. The 2020 deployment carried out two port visits, together with a submarine visit Cam Ranh, Vietnam.
IPD 21 noticed a return to full naval engagement as activity forces carried out 9 port visits, together with three in Oceania. The prioritization of Oceania in 2022 coincided with the signing of the Australia-Japan Reciprocal Entry Settlement for protection forces, making it simpler for the MSDF to function within the area.
Put up-pandemic expanded engagement continued with a report variety of port visits (17) and workout routines (27) in 2023. Whereas most visits occurred in Oceania, South China Sea workout routines garnered regional consideration. Multilateral coaching and an IDP-only antisubmarine warfare drill within the South China Sea demonstrated Japan’s versatile deterrence operations functionality in response to threats to the established order. Some Japanese specialists even considered the workout routines as a shift in Japan’s engagement technique, from convincing nations to embrace FOIP to collaborating with like-minded nations to discourage threats.
China didn’t welcome the potential shift. Beijing has criticized the IPDs as endangering regional safety, whilst its personal naval operations considerably expanded. Chinese language navy skilled Du Wenlong declared Japan’s IPDs a chance for the MSDF to conduct “far-sea offensive fight workout routines.”
This sentiment has not discovered a lot buy-in all through the Indo-Pacific. In accordance to the 2024 State of Southeast Asia Survey, Japan is essentially the most trusted main energy by Southeast Asians. Moreover, 91 p.c of ASEAN residents positively consider Japan’s proactive contribution to regional peace and stability.
The IPD’s regional engagements have solely helped enhance constructive perceptions of Japan’s worth to the Indo-Pacific. As such, these deployments will doubtless proceed for the foreseeable future, adapting to fulfill Japan’s international coverage wants.
