These obstacles overlap with some issues already mentioned other proposals, but project members agreed that the project should further specify in a more comprehensive manner within what scope and framework for international cooperation Japan can and should contribute to establishing.
4-1-6： Further promotion of public awareness of the importance of freedom of navigation
Encouraged by the success of the publication of the Bible of the Sea, project members agreed that efforts of public education of this kind should be facilitated. Need for more direct inputs into the policy circle was especially emphasized.
4-2 Further Suggestions
From a longer-perspective, project members raised several positive suggestions.
4-2-1： Need for a more specialized research institute
The project found that while other regional countries have their own research institutes or programs within academic bodies, whether governmental or private, Japan has almost no equivalent bodies. This could be a fatal shortcoming on the part of Japan if Japan is to increase its involvement in regional and international efforts to protect and promote freedom of navigation. Project members agreed that it is necessary to urgently establish a specialized research organization to fill this gap. This urgency was realized only when project members discussed Japan's potential regional cooperation from a long term perspective.
4-2-2： Need for increased attention to the economy in security issues
There is still a tendency among policy and academic circles to separate economic issues from security ones. However, as clear in the case of the importance of safe passage of oil tankers in sealanes, it is inappropriate to draw the line between the economy and security. Many project members suggested that the project be careful about this point in its future proceeding.
4-2-3： Need for a Japan-US framework to deal with the UN Law of the Seas
The UN Law of the Sea became in 1994. Although many regional countries, including Japan, ratified the agreement, the US has still been opposed to the agreement.
