The Cabinet has adopted a basic ocean policy program based on the Basic Law of the Sea, which went into effect in July 2007. Lawmakers from the Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito and the Democratic Party of Japan jointly wrote the law, which was enacted in April 2007, to properly develop marine resources and protect Japan's maritime interests. The program will document an important national strategy for Japan, which relies on sea transportation for food, energy and natural resources.

It lists 12 measures that the government must implement in a "comprehensive and planned manner" in five years starting with fiscal 2008. It includes, for example, prospecting and development of methane hydrate (frozen methane gas) deposits and hydrothermal deposits containing rare metals in Japan's 200-nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone. It calls for commercialization of these natural resources in about 10 years. To attain steady progress in the development of these and other maritime resources, an ocean energy and mineral resources development program will be worked out within fiscal 2008.

Under the basic policy program, ocean surveys, which were carried out separately by different government organizations, will be conducted in a unified manner and information necessary for maritime management will also be utilized in a consistent way. Dikes and breakwaters will be improved at remote islands, which serve as important locations for ocean surveys.

The government will endeavor to double the number of Japanese-registered oceangoing ships in five years and to increase the number of Japanese crew members aboard oceangoing ships by 1.5 times in 10 years so that Japan can secure stable sea transportation in times of emergency, including terrorist attacks.

In pushing the program, conflicts may arise with neighboring countries, as in the case of natural gas development in the East China Sea. Japan should strive to minimize frictions and persevere in solving problems through diplomatic negotiations.