A Tokyo-based think tank submitted a research report Wednesday to Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara, calling on Japan to turn Okinawa into a training hub for peace operations, with participants including the United States, Australia, China, South Korea and Taiwan.
The report calls for creation of the Center for International Peace Cooperation Action in Nago in northern Okinawa Island to train military forces, police and civilian specialists for peace operations, and conduct advanced research.
The Strategic Research Institute of International Change, headed by military affairs analyst Kazuhisa Ogawa, prepared the report "Peacebuilding and National Interests — Meeting the Challenge with a Model of Australian-Japanese Cooperation" with Australia-Japan Foundation research funds.