Japanese gov't passes 5-year basic plan on ocean policy

The Japanese government has passed during a cabinet meeting on Friday a five-year basic plan on ocean policy, which aims at promoting undersea resources development and enhancing surveillance capacity around its waters.

According to the plan, Japan will promote its investigation on reserves of undersea resources such as seabed methane hydrate and rare earth in the coming three years and develop technology for commercial production of methane gas from methane hydrate starting in 2018.

The plan also seeks to enhance Japan's maritime surveillance capability in its surrounding waters by reorganizing and outfitting planes and ships for Japanese Coast Guard and Self- Defense Forces and realizing information sharing between the two forces.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said in an overall oceanic policy meeting that Japan is eager to develop the undersea resources but its maritime security situation is getting worse and stressed the importance of coordination between different government organs so as to better carry out the policies.

Japan revises its oceanic policy every five years, according to the country's Basic Act on Ocean Policy that took effect in July 2007. The current ocean policy plan was compiled in 2008.