TACKLING GLOBAL SECURITY IN TIMES OF UNCERTAINTY

The UK Minister for Defence Equipment and Support Quentin Davies met today with Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Defence Akihisa Nagashima. He also called on senior officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and at the Ministry for Economy Trade and Industry.   In his meetings, Mr. Davies congratulated Japan for its valuable contributions to combating international terrorism and piracy.

Mr. Davies is visiting Japan to strengthen the defence relationship between UK and Japan, and to discuss security challenges, defence policies, and Japan’s international and regional role. On Tuesday 20 October he will meet Defence Minister Toshimi Kitazawa.

In a speech to a wide ranging audience at the British Embassy in Tokyo he praised Japan’s important financial contribution to the humanitarian and reconstruction effort in Afghanistan. Mr. Davies also said he strongly appreciated the significant contributions made by Japan’s Maritime Self-Defence Force in providing fuel to coalition vessels engaged in anti-terrorism activities in the Indian Ocean, and the counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden.  He stressed the importance of Japan finding ways to continue make an effective contribution to the mission in Afghanistan, and to expand its contributions to international security.

Mr. Davies also called for increased UK-Japan defence co-operation in equipment as well as between our land, sea and air forces, hoping that the UK and Japan could work even closer together on civil-military co-operation and maritime security in the future. Highlighting the possibility for a European solution to the Air Self-Defence Force new fighter programme with the proven Typhoon aircraft, he saw significant benefits to Japan’s relationship with the UK and Europe. He commented “If Japan selects Typhoon, two things will arise: A new level of industrial collaboeration between Japan and Europe, and a new relationship with the Japan Self-Defence Forces in areas of exchanging information, of tactics, and of training. We would greatly welcome the opportunity to take this new step in our relations with Japan."  

Notes for Editors

1. Quentin Davies MP is Minister for Defence Equipment and Support at the UK Ministry of Defence.  He leads on leads Defence equipment programme through-life; Logistic support, including the Defence Support Group and the Defence Storage and Distribution Agency; Performance management of Defence Equipment Support including the Major Projects Report; National Defence Industries Council; Commercial policy; Atomic Weapons Establishment; Defence exports, including international aspects of defence equipment and support and the UK/France High Level Working Group.  He took up his current position in October 2008.
2. More information about the UK Ministry of Defence can be found at www.mod.uk.  For more information on UK-Japan relations please visit the British Embassy website at http://ukinjapan.fco.gov.uk
   

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