Statement by the Head of Japanese Delegation on Agenda item 3 “General exchange of views” at the 56th session of the Legal Subcommittee of COPUOS
2017/3/30
Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Delegates,
On behalf of the Japanese Government, I am pleased to address the 56th session of the Legal Subcommittee of COPUOS.
First of all, we welcome New Zealand as a new member of the Committee.
In recent years, more and more states have become engaged in space activities, therefore it has become increasingly important for all states to behave in a responsible manner consistent with international laws for the long-term safety, security, sustainability and stability of the space environment.
In the circumstances, Japan would like to reiterate that the United Nations treaties on outer space are even more crucial than ever, and to emphasize the need to use various fora, including this Subcommittee, to call upon Member States to ratify and to implement them properly.
A number of Principles, Declarations and Guidelines for the peaceful use of outer space in the form of UN General Assembly Resolutions have been developed in the Committee since the early 1980s. These Resolutions have complemented the existing treaties for the peaceful use of outer space, which Japan highly values.
Thus, in 2013, Japan proposed a new agenda item titled “General exchange of Information on non-legally binding United Nations instruments on outer space", co-sponsored by Austria, Canada, France, Nigeria and the United States. The purpose of this agenda item is to facilitate exchange of views and information sharing on implementation of these non-legally binding United Nations instruments.
At the 55th session of this Subcommittee, Japan prepared a compendium of responses to the questionnaire, which will be updated by the Secretariat on behalf of Japan from this session. We would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to the Secretariat for their guidance and contribution.
We hope the compendium will invigorate discussions on this agenda item and will serve as a useful and meaningful reference for all states and agencies to implement these non-legally binding United Nations instruments.
Mr. Chairman,
This session of the Subcommittee will also resume the deliberations of the Working Group under the agenda item titled “Review of the international mechanisms for cooperation in the peaceful exploration and use of outer space” chaired by Prof. Setsuko Aoki. Japan notes the importance of this Subcommittee as a unique platform for the discussion of the legal aspects of the peaceful exploration and use of outer space, and, by reviewing a number of existing cooperation efforts, we would like to gain a clear overview of those efforts and analyze success cases accordingly. During this session, for example, we will provide an overview of our experiences on international cooperation mechanisms. We hope that all states will make active contributions under this agenda item.
Mr. Chairman,
I would like to introduce recent developments in Japan’s space policies. Recently, in Japan, more and more private enterprises are entering the market on space application. Considering this situation, and based on Japan’s new “Basic Plan on Space Policy”, Japan enacted two new space-related laws in November 2016, titled the “Law concerning launch and control of satellites” and the “Law concerning ensuring adequate handling of satellite remote sensing data”.
The “Law concerning launch and control of satellites” established a system or authorization for the launch and control of satellites and a compensation scheme for damage caused by these activities, in order to accurately and smoothly implement UN space treaties, to ensure public safety, and to contribute to enhancing livelihood of people and development of economic society.
The “Law concerning ensuring adequate handling of satellite remote sensing data” established a licensing regime for using satellite remote sensing systems and addresses necessary matters with respect to restrictions associated with satellite data, in order to ensure the adequacy of using systems of satellite remote sensing.
Mr. Chairman,
2018 marks the 50th anniversary of UNISPACE I held in 1968. I’d like to express our sincere gratitude to Mr. Bernhard Schmidt-Tedd, the Chair of the WG on the Status and Application of the Five United Nations Treaties on Outer Space, for his achievement to develop a “Legal regime of outer space and global space governance: current and future perspectives” which will be the Legal Subcommittee’s input to the thematic priorities of UNISPACE+50. I expect a productive discussion on this theme as preparations forUNISPACE+50 get underway.
Mr. Chairman,
I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce our recent space activities and achievements.
To begin, we are pleased to announce that Astronaut Takuya Onishi returned safely to Earth last October after completing his 115-day long-duration mission on the International Space Station. During his mission, Astronaut Onishi conducted various experiments and research, such as a long-term rodent rearing mission to raise mice in orbit for 35 days and return the living mice to Earth for further experiments. This mission will contribute to aging research to understand and treat aging-related symptoms. This year in the fall, Japanese astronaut, Norishige Kanai is scheduled to be launched to the ISS for the first time.
As for launching, Japan has conducted five space craft launches via H-IIA Launch Vehicle No.31, 32 and 33, H-IIB Launch Vehicle No.6, and the second Epsilon Launch Vehicle in the past year.
Among them, the Exploration of energization and Radiation in Geospace satellite, ERG, or "ARASE" in Japanese, aims to illuminate how highly charged electrons have been born while they generate and vanish repeatedly along with space storms caused by the disturbance of solar wind, and how space storms are developed. We hope the observation data from ERG will contribute to better understanding of space weather.
Furthermore, the 6th H-II Transfer Vehicle “KOUNOTORI” or HTV6, was successfully launched last December. HTV6 delivered essential cargo for ISS utilization and operation, including new lithium-ion battery cells Made-in-Japan.
These launched space objects will be registered to the Secretary-General of the United Nations with related information in accordance with the Convention on the registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space.
Meanwhile Japan continuously promotes the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF). APRSAF-23 was successfully held last November from 15 to 18 in Manila, the Philippines. This year, APRSAF-24 will be held in Bengaluru, India, from November 14 to 17and we welcome everyone’s participants, particularly those of from the regions of Asia and the Pacific.
Finally, Mr. Chairman,
As a GNSS provider participating in the International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (ICG) established within COPUOS and where the interoperability and compatibility between GNSS systems is promoted, we would like to congratulate the Russian Federation for successfully hosting the 11th meeting of the ICG last November in Sochi. We also pleased to announce that the 12th meeting of the ICG will be held in Kyoto in December 2017.
Let me conclude my remarks by reassuring the commitment of Japan to accomplishing the goals of COPUOS and by reiterating its willingness to work together with you to achieve tangible results.
Thank you for your kind attention.
On behalf of the Japanese Government, I am pleased to address the 56th session of the Legal Subcommittee of COPUOS.
First of all, we welcome New Zealand as a new member of the Committee.
In recent years, more and more states have become engaged in space activities, therefore it has become increasingly important for all states to behave in a responsible manner consistent with international laws for the long-term safety, security, sustainability and stability of the space environment.
In the circumstances, Japan would like to reiterate that the United Nations treaties on outer space are even more crucial than ever, and to emphasize the need to use various fora, including this Subcommittee, to call upon Member States to ratify and to implement them properly.
A number of Principles, Declarations and Guidelines for the peaceful use of outer space in the form of UN General Assembly Resolutions have been developed in the Committee since the early 1980s. These Resolutions have complemented the existing treaties for the peaceful use of outer space, which Japan highly values.
Thus, in 2013, Japan proposed a new agenda item titled “General exchange of Information on non-legally binding United Nations instruments on outer space", co-sponsored by Austria, Canada, France, Nigeria and the United States. The purpose of this agenda item is to facilitate exchange of views and information sharing on implementation of these non-legally binding United Nations instruments.
At the 55th session of this Subcommittee, Japan prepared a compendium of responses to the questionnaire, which will be updated by the Secretariat on behalf of Japan from this session. We would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to the Secretariat for their guidance and contribution.
We hope the compendium will invigorate discussions on this agenda item and will serve as a useful and meaningful reference for all states and agencies to implement these non-legally binding United Nations instruments.
Mr. Chairman,
This session of the Subcommittee will also resume the deliberations of the Working Group under the agenda item titled “Review of the international mechanisms for cooperation in the peaceful exploration and use of outer space” chaired by Prof. Setsuko Aoki. Japan notes the importance of this Subcommittee as a unique platform for the discussion of the legal aspects of the peaceful exploration and use of outer space, and, by reviewing a number of existing cooperation efforts, we would like to gain a clear overview of those efforts and analyze success cases accordingly. During this session, for example, we will provide an overview of our experiences on international cooperation mechanisms. We hope that all states will make active contributions under this agenda item.
Mr. Chairman,
I would like to introduce recent developments in Japan’s space policies. Recently, in Japan, more and more private enterprises are entering the market on space application. Considering this situation, and based on Japan’s new “Basic Plan on Space Policy”, Japan enacted two new space-related laws in November 2016, titled the “Law concerning launch and control of satellites” and the “Law concerning ensuring adequate handling of satellite remote sensing data”.
The “Law concerning launch and control of satellites” established a system or authorization for the launch and control of satellites and a compensation scheme for damage caused by these activities, in order to accurately and smoothly implement UN space treaties, to ensure public safety, and to contribute to enhancing livelihood of people and development of economic society.
The “Law concerning ensuring adequate handling of satellite remote sensing data” established a licensing regime for using satellite remote sensing systems and addresses necessary matters with respect to restrictions associated with satellite data, in order to ensure the adequacy of using systems of satellite remote sensing.
Mr. Chairman,
2018 marks the 50th anniversary of UNISPACE I held in 1968. I’d like to express our sincere gratitude to Mr. Bernhard Schmidt-Tedd, the Chair of the WG on the Status and Application of the Five United Nations Treaties on Outer Space, for his achievement to develop a “Legal regime of outer space and global space governance: current and future perspectives” which will be the Legal Subcommittee’s input to the thematic priorities of UNISPACE+50. I expect a productive discussion on this theme as preparations forUNISPACE+50 get underway.
Mr. Chairman,
I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce our recent space activities and achievements.
To begin, we are pleased to announce that Astronaut Takuya Onishi returned safely to Earth last October after completing his 115-day long-duration mission on the International Space Station. During his mission, Astronaut Onishi conducted various experiments and research, such as a long-term rodent rearing mission to raise mice in orbit for 35 days and return the living mice to Earth for further experiments. This mission will contribute to aging research to understand and treat aging-related symptoms. This year in the fall, Japanese astronaut, Norishige Kanai is scheduled to be launched to the ISS for the first time.
As for launching, Japan has conducted five space craft launches via H-IIA Launch Vehicle No.31, 32 and 33, H-IIB Launch Vehicle No.6, and the second Epsilon Launch Vehicle in the past year.
Among them, the Exploration of energization and Radiation in Geospace satellite, ERG, or "ARASE" in Japanese, aims to illuminate how highly charged electrons have been born while they generate and vanish repeatedly along with space storms caused by the disturbance of solar wind, and how space storms are developed. We hope the observation data from ERG will contribute to better understanding of space weather.
Furthermore, the 6th H-II Transfer Vehicle “KOUNOTORI” or HTV6, was successfully launched last December. HTV6 delivered essential cargo for ISS utilization and operation, including new lithium-ion battery cells Made-in-Japan.
These launched space objects will be registered to the Secretary-General of the United Nations with related information in accordance with the Convention on the registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space.
Meanwhile Japan continuously promotes the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF). APRSAF-23 was successfully held last November from 15 to 18 in Manila, the Philippines. This year, APRSAF-24 will be held in Bengaluru, India, from November 14 to 17and we welcome everyone’s participants, particularly those of from the regions of Asia and the Pacific.
Finally, Mr. Chairman,
As a GNSS provider participating in the International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (ICG) established within COPUOS and where the interoperability and compatibility between GNSS systems is promoted, we would like to congratulate the Russian Federation for successfully hosting the 11th meeting of the ICG last November in Sochi. We also pleased to announce that the 12th meeting of the ICG will be held in Kyoto in December 2017.
Let me conclude my remarks by reassuring the commitment of Japan to accomplishing the goals of COPUOS and by reiterating its willingness to work together with you to achieve tangible results.
Thank you for your kind attention.