Statement of by the Head of Japanese Delegation on Agenda item 5 “General exchange of views” at the 67th session of COPUOS
2024/6/20
Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space
67th Session
Japan Item 5 – “General exchange of views”
Chair, Distinguished delegates,
I would like to express congratulations for Mr. Sherif Mohamed Sedky on your election, and my sincere gratitude to the former Chair, Mr. Omran Sharaf for your outstanding work. I appreciate Ms. Aarti Holla-Maini, the Director of UNOOSA, and her team for the preparation of this committee and its exceptional work.
Chair,
We have seen a rapid increase in the quantity and quality of space activities, both by States and private entities. This reminds us of the importance of the existing rules and normative frameworks, and the need to develop such rules and norms further. COPUOS and its Subcommittees have been playing unique and vital roles in developing legally binding and non-binding instruments and they must address emerging issues in a timely manner.
The UN Summit of the Future in September this year will discuss such emerging issues.
Japan reiterates the importance of the obligations of all States Parties to comply with the Outer Space Treaty, including not to place in orbit around the Earth any objects carrying nuclear weapons or any other kinds of weapons of mass destruction. Full compliance with the existing legal frameworks, including the Outer Space Treaty, is our common responsibility.
Chair,
Ensuring sustainability in space activities is of utmost importance for us all so that the current and the future generation can benefit from outer space. Space debris is a serious problem we face today. We strongly encourage efforts to develop further solutions for orbital debris mitigation and remediation. Japan has begun our efforts:
In this regard, I would like to inform you that we will submit a non-paper to this session of COPUOS very soon and look forward to hearing the views of others. I would also like to invite you to our side event at 1 pm today and a technical presentation by Mr. Nobu OKADA, CEO of Astroscale Holdings, in the morning of tomorrow, 21 June.
Chair,
There is an urgent need to increase international cooperation and accelerate the application of space assets in order to achieve the SDGs. There are some initiatives that Japan has taken:
Space exploration is another field of international cooperation.
Japan echoes the condemnation of Russia's aggression against Ukraine. This is a flagrant violation of international law, which is also the very foundation of international cooperation in outer space activities.
Chair,
I am confident that we will have a highly successful session of the COPUOS under your leadership. Thank you.
67th Session
Japan Item 5 – “General exchange of views”
Chair, Distinguished delegates,
I would like to express congratulations for Mr. Sherif Mohamed Sedky on your election, and my sincere gratitude to the former Chair, Mr. Omran Sharaf for your outstanding work. I appreciate Ms. Aarti Holla-Maini, the Director of UNOOSA, and her team for the preparation of this committee and its exceptional work.
Chair,
We have seen a rapid increase in the quantity and quality of space activities, both by States and private entities. This reminds us of the importance of the existing rules and normative frameworks, and the need to develop such rules and norms further. COPUOS and its Subcommittees have been playing unique and vital roles in developing legally binding and non-binding instruments and they must address emerging issues in a timely manner.
The UN Summit of the Future in September this year will discuss such emerging issues.
Japan reiterates the importance of the obligations of all States Parties to comply with the Outer Space Treaty, including not to place in orbit around the Earth any objects carrying nuclear weapons or any other kinds of weapons of mass destruction. Full compliance with the existing legal frameworks, including the Outer Space Treaty, is our common responsibility.
Chair,
Ensuring sustainability in space activities is of utmost importance for us all so that the current and the future generation can benefit from outer space. Space debris is a serious problem we face today. We strongly encourage efforts to develop further solutions for orbital debris mitigation and remediation. Japan has begun our efforts:
- Regarding the mitigation, the Space Activities Act of Japan stipulates space debris mitigation requirements. JAXA’s space debris mitigation standards are also publicly available.
- On the remediation, Japan works hard on the technological development for active debris removal (ADR) with private entities. Japan established the national guidelines in 2021 to set out supplementary requirements for on-orbit operations, including ADR, for ensuring a responsible and transparent operation. We encourage other states to establish similar guidelines.
In this regard, I would like to inform you that we will submit a non-paper to this session of COPUOS very soon and look forward to hearing the views of others. I would also like to invite you to our side event at 1 pm today and a technical presentation by Mr. Nobu OKADA, CEO of Astroscale Holdings, in the morning of tomorrow, 21 June.
Chair,
There is an urgent need to increase international cooperation and accelerate the application of space assets in order to achieve the SDGs. There are some initiatives that Japan has taken:
- The government of Japan has updated its Basic Plan on Space Policy in order to pursue economic growth as well as to further promote cutting-edge science and technology. Japan will leverage its expertise to take part in international cooperation.
- In the field of space law, Japan has been actively promoting capacity building efforts at the regional and UN levels. Regionally, the “National Space Legislation Initiative (NSLI)” under the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF) facilitates the drafting and implementing national legislation and policies among the participating countries. At the UN level, Japan has been a big supporter for the UNOOSA’s “Space Law for New Space Actors” project. This year Japan works with the Philippines and Thailand.
- In Earth observing, EarthCARE (Earth Cloud and Aerosol Radiation Explorer), a joint mission with ESA, was launched at the end of May. EarthCARE will contributing to a better understanding of climate change by reducing uncertainties about the role of clouds and aerosols in heating and cooling of the Earth’s atmosphere.
Space exploration is another field of international cooperation.
- First, Japan's Lunar mission the SLIM (Smart Lander for Investigating Moon) achieved first pinpoint landing in history in January this year. This technology will be utilized for our international endeavor.
- Second, Japan signed an Implementing Arrangement with the United States for human spaceflight cooperation on the Moon in last April.
- With these progresses, Japan hopes to contribute to Artemis Program among others as now 43 countries have signed the Artemis Accords.
Japan echoes the condemnation of Russia's aggression against Ukraine. This is a flagrant violation of international law, which is also the very foundation of international cooperation in outer space activities.
Chair,
I am confident that we will have a highly successful session of the COPUOS under your leadership. Thank you.