JMSA participates in the planning of development studies to cooperate in the preparation of the official development plans of developing countries. In FY 1995, JMSA participated in the planning of the full-fledged study, "The Study on the Preparation of Nautical Charts in the Northern Law Islands Region in the Republic of Fiji," whose objective is to ensure the safety of major sea lanes in the waters surrounding Fiji. It also participated in the planning of the "Master Plan Study on Coastal Shipping Rehabilitation and Development Project in Vietnam," whose objective is to establish a maritime transportation system along the coast of Vietnam.
(4) Other Technical Cooperation
In order to ensure the safe passage of large ships through the Malacca and Singapore Straits, the three coastal countries (Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore) are proceeding with a project to establish aids to navigation in the areas. Japan cooperates in this project through the Malacca Strait Council and JICA.
JMSA is cooperating in the technical aspects of this project by dispatching experts. In FY 1995, it dispatched four experts to provide technical guidance related to areas such as the maintenance and installation of aids to navigation in these straits.
Furthermore, JMSA is participating in the planning of the projects that are part of "The Four Nation Joint Re-Survey of Critical Areas and Investigation of Dangerous/ Unconfirmed Shoals and Wrecks in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore," whose purpose is to ensure navigational safety in these straits. JMSA dispatched three experts as a preparatory study team for this project.
2. International Science and Technology Cooperation
International science and technology cooperation is essential in the effective and efficient promotion of research and development related to solving problems requiring global responses, such as environmental problems, or related fields such as space and oceanography.
JMSA carries out information exchange, interchanges between researchers, joint research projects, etc., with countries such as the U.S. These major efforts are as listed in Table 2-9-3.
3. International Disaster Relief Activities
JMSA has prepared a response system in accordance with the Law Concerning Dispatch of the Japan Disaster Relief Team. Under this system, when a large scale disaster occurs or is on the verge of occurring in an overseas region, especially in a developing country or region, JMSA, in response to a request from the government of the afflicted country that
