Challenges in Conducting Military Humanitarian Exercises in Foreign States: Japan Self-Defense Forces in Pacific Partnership in the Philippines

• In Event: Civilian and Military Engagements in Emergency Response: Coordination Challenges Amidst Information and Power Asymmetries

Abstract

Japan Self Defence Forces (SDF) has participated in HA/DR operations and exercises in foreign states since the 2004 Sumatra Earthquake. There have been an increased opportunities for the SDF to collaborate with political leaderships, host nations and international actors. When foreign forces including the SDF conduct military humanitarian operations abroad, their legitimacy and transparency on exercise details must be secured in the bilateral diplomatic level. However, the issues on legitimacy and transparency are currently being handled on an ad hoc basis relying on the ground staff’s personal capability. Also, designing of HA/DR exercises are currently handled almost solely by the militaries, distancing themselves from the civilian actors in this process. This may compromise the civilian control and provoke issues on international intervention.
In order to analyze these issues, a case will be studied from the Pacific Partnership (PP) military exercises, the largest annual multilateral HA/DR preparedness missions conducted by the U.S. Pacific Fleet in the Asia-Pacific region. Through the author’s observatory participations in the PP 2015’s mission in the Philippines, these challenges are examined through her on-board discussions with the military and non-military participants from different countries who provided the local residents with medical care, veterinary services, and major infrastructure constructions.

Author

• Saya Kiba, Doshisha University