Japan’s Arctic Policy
Recent rapid changes in the Arctic region have affected global environmental issues and the national security environment. At the same time, it is also of interest to the international community in the potential for Arctic sea routes and resource development. Geographically, Japan’s location makes it vulnerable to the effects of Arctic climate change, and it is the country in Asia closest to the Arctic Ocean, so the government has positioned Arctic policy as an important policy issue.
“Japan’s Arctic Policy”
This is Japan’s first comprehensive Arctic policy, which was decided by the Headquarters for Ocean Policy in October 2015. In the policy, the future direction was presented as the “Need to Address Arctic Issues” in the following seven areas: Global Environmental Issues, Indigenous Peoples of the Arctic, Science and Technology, Ensuring the Rule of Law and promoting International Cooperation, Arctic Sea Route, Natural Resources Development, and National Security.
“The Basic Plan on Ocean Policy”
The Basic Act on Ocean Policy was enacted in July 2007 with the aim of realizing Japan as a new maritime nation. The Cabinet Office approved the First Basic Plan on Ocean Policy in March 2008, the Second Basic Plan on Ocean Policy in April 2013, and the Third Basic Plan on Ocean Policy in May 2018, and the progress of individual policies in the Basic Plan on Ocean Policy is published annually.
Reference Site
The documents herein refer to the following sites.