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The attacks on the WTC and the Pentagon, were attacks against the symbols of the economic and military might of the only superpower in the world. The WTC towers had more significance as it represented the globalized economy and business houses from many countries had their offices and people working there. In the resulting crisis, Japan which itself enjoyed the status of an economic superpower and had amicable economic and security relations with United States, could not stay away like in the past notably the Gulf war, when Japan’s reaction as well as contributions came in quite late. As seen in the previous chapter that the menace of terrorism is not a new challenge for Japan. Besides domestic terrorism, Japan has also been the victim of international terrorism, the prominent example of which was the seizure of the Japanese ambassador’s residence in Peru in 1996. Before the Japanese government’s reaction to the September 11 attacks is discussed, it is perhaps instructive to look at Japanese response to international terrorism before this event. Japan’s Response to International Terrorism: Pre-September 11 Japanese citizens abroad have been abducted by terrorists several times. In August 1999, four Japan International Cooperation Agenda experts engaged in a resource development study in Kyrgyzstan were abducted by armed elements, but were safely released sixty-four days later. Japanese citizens were caught up in the seizure of the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok in 1995, the hijacking of an Egypt Air airplane en route from Istanbul to Cairo in October, the same year, as well as a bombing incident in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Japanese citizens were also on broad when an Indian Airlines airplane en route from Kathmandu to Delhi in December 1999 was hijacked. Perhaps the most spectacular exposure Japan had to international terrorism was the seizure, on December 18, 1996, of the Japanese Ambassador’s residence in the Peruvian capital of Lima. It was seized by the Revloutionary Army of Tupac Amaru (MRTA) terrorists. However, later on, Peruvian forces carried out a rescue operation. As a result of this operation, although one hostage and two members of the special forces lost their lives. All the hostages including Japanese citizens were rescued. Motivated by this incident, Japan started reviewing its responses to international terrorism and work to strengthen its crisis management, information gathering and security systems. For Japanese citizens travelling abroad, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued in publication entitled “Travel advice and warning”, telling them about the world’s danger spots. Japan also started strengthening its information gathering and provision capacities in countries in which Japan had no diplomatic mission following the abduction of the Japanese citizens in Kyrgyzstan.
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