Statement by the Head of Japanese Delegation on Agenda item 3 “General exchange of views” at the 60th session of the Legal Subcommittee of COPUOS
2021/5/31
Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space
Legal Subcommittee 60th Session
Japan, Agenda Item 3 – “General exchange of views”
Madam Chair, Distinguished Delegates,
Let me start by congratulating Professor Setsuko Aoki for assuming the chair of this Subcommittee. Japan is confident that Member States can achieve tangible results in this session under your able guidance.
Madam Chair,
Japan recognizes the importance of the rule of law in outer space. To ensure the safety, security, sustainability and stability of outer space, all states should duly comply with relevant international norms in conducting their space related activities. Japan reaffirms the importance of the United Nations treaties, and calls upon Member States to ratify them and to implement them properly.
Also, a number of Principles, Declarations and Guidelines for the peaceful uses of outer space in the form of UN General Assembly resolutions have been developed in the Committee since the early 1980s. These resolutions have been playing an important role to complement the existing treaties. Japan attaches great importance to these resolutions.
Another important non-legally binding instrument on outer space is the LTS Guidelines. Japan encourages states and international organizations to implement the guidelines to the greatest extent possible, while we also understand that some of the guidelines need to be further elaborated. Japan looks forwards to the progress of the new LTS 2.0 WG.
Madam Chair,
Given the growing diversity of space activities including for commercial use, it is essential to ensure appropriate uses of outer space in accordance with international norms. With regard to national legislation relevant to the peaceful exploration and use of outer space, Japan established the Basic Space Law in 2008. In accordance with the Law, Japan formulates and publishes the Basic Plan on Space Policy as a comprehensive space policy of Japan. The current Basic Plan was updated last year, containing a section referring to the promotion of international cooperation. In 2016, Japan enacted two national space acts regarding non-governmental space activities and remote sensing data utilization.
Madam Chair,
Japan acknowledges the importance of international cooperation in ensuring the safety, security, sustainability, and stability of outer space. In this regard, information sharing and exchanges on national space legislation are important for enhancing space activities pursuant to the treaties and other international norms. The “National Space Legislation Initiative (NSLI)” under the activities of APRSAF provides a regional opportunity to contribute to such objectives.
This Initiative is open to the national governmental organizations of the Asia-Pacific countries. Under this initiative, a Study Group consisting of practitioners in space policy and law from nine countries, namely Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, and Viet Nam, led by Professor Setsuko Aoki from Japan and Dr. Dao Chien from Viet Nam, conducted a joint study to draft a report on the status of national space legislation. This report was jointly submitted by the nine countries to the 60th session of the Legal Subcommittee of COPUOS, and is currently available on the LSC website. For further information, please refer to the technical presentation on this topic, scheduled on June 7st.
Last but not least, I am pleased to announce that the Government of Japan will provide a new contribution to UNOOSA for its space law for new space actors project. Japan will support new space actors in the Asia-Pacific region to develop and operate domestic space-related laws and regulations in line with international space law, and to build the legal capacity necessary to manage and supervise their space activities, including private and commercial space activities.
Thank you for your kind attention.
Legal Subcommittee 60th Session
Japan, Agenda Item 3 – “General exchange of views”
Madam Chair, Distinguished Delegates,
Let me start by congratulating Professor Setsuko Aoki for assuming the chair of this Subcommittee. Japan is confident that Member States can achieve tangible results in this session under your able guidance.
Madam Chair,
Japan recognizes the importance of the rule of law in outer space. To ensure the safety, security, sustainability and stability of outer space, all states should duly comply with relevant international norms in conducting their space related activities. Japan reaffirms the importance of the United Nations treaties, and calls upon Member States to ratify them and to implement them properly.
Also, a number of Principles, Declarations and Guidelines for the peaceful uses of outer space in the form of UN General Assembly resolutions have been developed in the Committee since the early 1980s. These resolutions have been playing an important role to complement the existing treaties. Japan attaches great importance to these resolutions.
Another important non-legally binding instrument on outer space is the LTS Guidelines. Japan encourages states and international organizations to implement the guidelines to the greatest extent possible, while we also understand that some of the guidelines need to be further elaborated. Japan looks forwards to the progress of the new LTS 2.0 WG.
Madam Chair,
Given the growing diversity of space activities including for commercial use, it is essential to ensure appropriate uses of outer space in accordance with international norms. With regard to national legislation relevant to the peaceful exploration and use of outer space, Japan established the Basic Space Law in 2008. In accordance with the Law, Japan formulates and publishes the Basic Plan on Space Policy as a comprehensive space policy of Japan. The current Basic Plan was updated last year, containing a section referring to the promotion of international cooperation. In 2016, Japan enacted two national space acts regarding non-governmental space activities and remote sensing data utilization.
Madam Chair,
Japan acknowledges the importance of international cooperation in ensuring the safety, security, sustainability, and stability of outer space. In this regard, information sharing and exchanges on national space legislation are important for enhancing space activities pursuant to the treaties and other international norms. The “National Space Legislation Initiative (NSLI)” under the activities of APRSAF provides a regional opportunity to contribute to such objectives.
This Initiative is open to the national governmental organizations of the Asia-Pacific countries. Under this initiative, a Study Group consisting of practitioners in space policy and law from nine countries, namely Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, and Viet Nam, led by Professor Setsuko Aoki from Japan and Dr. Dao Chien from Viet Nam, conducted a joint study to draft a report on the status of national space legislation. This report was jointly submitted by the nine countries to the 60th session of the Legal Subcommittee of COPUOS, and is currently available on the LSC website. For further information, please refer to the technical presentation on this topic, scheduled on June 7st.
Last but not least, I am pleased to announce that the Government of Japan will provide a new contribution to UNOOSA for its space law for new space actors project. Japan will support new space actors in the Asia-Pacific region to develop and operate domestic space-related laws and regulations in line with international space law, and to build the legal capacity necessary to manage and supervise their space activities, including private and commercial space activities.
Thank you for your kind attention.