Asean, Japan to focus cooperation on counter-terrorism efforts

Wednesday 1st of August 2012

MANILA, Aug 1 -- The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and Japan have agreed to focus on cooperation on countering chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) and cyber terrorism.

A press statement from the Asean said other priority areas, including transport security, border control and immigration, law enforcement, maritime security and capacity building, were agreed upon at the Seventh Asean-Japan Counter-Terrorism (AJCT) Dialogue.

The seventh AJCT Dialogue, held from July 24 to 26 in Cebu, Philippines, marked the beginning of the second phase of the AJCT Dialogue from 2012 to 2015 and served as a good opportunity for Asean member-states and Japan to exchange information on their efforts to combat terrorism, the Asean statement said.

The meeting reviewed the first phase of the AJCT Dialogue from 2006 to 2011 and discussed the second phase of the AJCT Dialogue.

Ambassador Tamotsu Shinotsuka, ambassador-in-charge of International Cooperation for Countering Terrorism and International Organized Crime and ambassador-in-charge of Cyber Policy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, said Japan stands ready to support Asean’s efforts in countering terrorism through supporting capacity building initiatives and activities. He has also reiterated Japan’s continued financing for these efforts via the Japan-Asean Integration Fund (JAIF).

On behalf of the Asean member-states, Rico Escalona-Puno, undersecretary for Peace and Order and Transnational Crime, Department of the Interior and Local Government of the Philippines, expressed appreciation to the government of Japan for the continued support of Asean’s counter-terrorism efforts.

New project concepts to combat terrorism were also endorsed at the meeting. This demonstrates the continued efforts of Asean and Japan in countering terrorism in this new phase.

Escalona and Tamotsu co-chaired the dialogue. (ASEAN)