U.S., Japan, Korea coast guards sign trilateral agreement to increase maritime cooperation
Mr. Kishimori Hajime, deputy Consul General of Japan (left), Japan coast guard Vice Adm. Watanabe Yasunori, Japan coast guard vice commandant for operations, U.S. Coast Guard Vice Adm. Andrew Tiongson, commander, U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area, and Hyunchul Kang, deputy Consul General of the Republic of Korea, pose with a signed trilateral agreement at Coast Guard Island, Alameda, Calif., May 9, 2024. Japan, Republic of Korea and U.S. coast guards gathered to finalize a trilateral letter of intent, which will drive the three nations to work together to advance maritime safety, security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Master Chief Petty Officer Charly Tautfest)
Below is a PACAREA news release.
Like the US Coast Guard, Japan and South Korea have been attempting to help SE Asian nations strengthen their maritime security and law enforcement organizations so that they can deal with what is essentially state supported, state sponsored, and state coordinated theft of their resources.
This should at least allow better coordination and avoid unnecessary duplication. The Philippines and Vietnam are likely to be primary beneficiaries.
We probably have things to learn too. The Japanese and S. Korean Coast Guards are both large and have a lot of experience countering violent resistance.
A picture taken on November 16, 2011 from a South Korean helicopter shows Chinese fishermen wielding sticks to stop an attack by South Korean coastguard commandoes armed with clubs aboard rubber boats during a crackdown on alleged illegal fishing in South Korean waters in the Yellow Sea off the southwestern coast county of Buan. South Korea’s coastguard mobilised 12 ships, four helicopters and commandoes for a special three-day crackdown on illegal fishing by Chinese boats this week. REPUBLIC OF KOREA OUT AFP PHOTO / DONG-A ILBO (Photo credit should read DONG-A ILBO/AFP/Getty Images)
Thanks to Paul for bringing this to my attention.
U.S., Japan, Korea Coast Guards sign trilateral agreement to increase maritime cooperation
ALAMEDA, Calif – U.S. Coast Guard, Japan Coast Guard and Korea Coast Guard representatives displayed continued commitment to enhance maritime expertise and promote regional cooperation by signing a trilateral letter of intent, Thursday.
This agreement aligns trilateral cooperation between Japan, the Republic of Korea and the United States to include capacity-building efforts to Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Pacific Island countries. The letter of intent advances a joint statement between the three nations’ leaders, which was held at Camp David in August 2023.
U.S. Coast Guard Vice Adm. Andrew Tiongson, Commander, U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area, met Japan Coast Guard Vice Adm. Watanabe Yasunori, Japan Coast Guard Vice Commandant for Operations, to finalize a trilateral letter of intent, which was previously signed by Korea Coast Guard Oh Sang Kwon, Deputy Commissioner of the Korea Coast Guard. Oh signed the letter of intent in April with the understanding that the agreement would be finalized upon Watanabe’s May visit to U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area command.
Mr. Hyunchul Kang, Deputy Consul General of the Republic of Korea, attended the trilateral signing on behalf of the Korea coast guard, and Mr. Kishimori Hajime, Deputy Consul General of Japan, presented brief remarks as well.
“This trilateral agreement between U.S., Japan and Korea Coast Guards is the lynchpin that will drive our coast guards to work together to advance maritime safety, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific,” said Tiongson. “It will enhance our multilateral operations with each other, as well as other trusted partners in the region.”
The agreement specifically recognizes the important of efforts to conserve maritime resources, combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and search and rescue response efforts.
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