Maritime Safety and Security Policy Program Alumni Conference

On September 9, the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) held an online conference with alumni of the Maritime Safety and Security Policy Program (MSP) in cooperation with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
 
The MSP is the world's first master's degree program to develop experts in the field of coast guard for junior-level executive officers of coast guard agencies in Asian countries, in cooperation with the Japan Coast Guard and the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS). Nine (9) members from the Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Marines who participated in this program joined this online conference from the Philippines. JCG Commandant OKUSHIMA Takahiro, Professor MICHISHITA Narushige of GRIPS, and Admiral (Ret.) Joel S Garcia from the National Coast Watch Council Secretariat gave special remarks and comments during the conference.
 
Throughout the discussion, the MSP alumni emphasized the importance of sharing the universal concepts of the rule of law and freedom of navigation among countries, and stressed the need for greater cooperation to maintain and strengthen a rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific region. They also underscored the significance of human resource development for all leaders who will lead their respective organizations and handle global challenges in the future.
　
The JCG will continue to hold the MSP alumni conference annually to further develop the MSP alumni network as a whole. Japan and the Philippines’ close maritime security cooperation shall help promote a Free and Open Indo-Pacific and greatly contribute to the peace, stability and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region. – End-