(My latest for Jane's Defence Weekly) Obama and Noda commit to improving space co-operation

ASIA PACIFIC

Date Posted: 02-May-2012

Jane's Defence Weekly

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Obama and Noda commit to improving space co-operation

Kosuke Takahashi JDW Correspondent
Tokyo

The joint development of GPS capabilities and cyber-security co-operation were the notable outcomes of Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's first official visit to Washington DC.

Noda, the first Japanese leader to meet US President Barack Obama in Washington since his Democratic Party of Japan took power in September 2009, arrived days after the two countries agreed on a revised realignment plan for US forces in Japan.

Speaking at the White House, Obama reiterated that "the US-Japan alliance will remain the foundation of the security and prosperity of our two nations [and] also a cornerstone of regional peace and security". A joint statement added: "We must also work to protect and develop the tremendous potential of critical areas such as the high seas, space, and cyberspace, ensuring their use is responsible and rule-based."     

Although the statement was short on details on how the two countries would achieve this, Obama and Noda did announce plans to enhance space co-operation through the US's GPS and Japan's Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS), which is designed to improve GPS-based navigation in the Asia-Pacific region.

The US has about 30 GPS satellites in orbit. Japan launched its first QZSS satellite in September 2010.

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