Joint Announcement on
United States–Japan GPS Cooperation

January 18, 2012
Washington, D.C.

The Governments of the United States of America and Japan held their 9th plenary meeting in Washington, D.C., on January 18, 2012, to review and discuss cooperation in the civil use of space-based positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) systems. These consultations are held periodically pursuant to the "Joint Statement on Cooperation in the Use of the Global Positioning System" signed by the heads of the two Governments on September 22, 1998.

In the January 18 meeting, the U.S. Government reported on the status of the U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS), the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) and international Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) cooperative activities while the Government of Japan reported on the status and future plans for the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) and Japan's international GNSS-related cooperation. The GPS/QZSS Technical Working Group (TWG) prepared a report on its activities, which was submitted to the Plenary and is attached to this Announcement. Both Governments reaffirmed the importance of providing open access to basic space-based PNT services for peaceful purposes, free of direct user fees. Both Governments noted with satisfaction the successful operation of two QZSS monitoring stations on U.S. soil, one in Guam and the other in Hawaii following the full activation of the first Quasi-Zenith satellite in July 2011.

The United States welcomed Japan's decision to expand and upgrade QZSS into an operational and regional system that, in time, could be composed of as many as seven satellites and acknowledged the important contribution such an expanded and upgraded system will make to the space-based PNT services in the Asia-Pacific region.

The U.S. congratulated Japan for hosting the 6th plenary meeting of the International Committee on GNSS (ICG) in Tokyo, September 5-9, 2011. Both Governments support the increased emphasis at the ICG on signal monitoring and interference detection and mitigation. The U.S. appreciates Japan leading the "Multi-GNSS Asia" project that will provide monitoring of signals from multiple GNSS and promote improved performance and service for all civil users.

The U.S. and Japan view our long-standing close cooperation in space-based navigation as a successful model of international cooperation and transparency, setting an example of compatibility and interoperability of civil signals and transparency in system design and technical capabilities.

The 9th Plenary strengthened cooperative relations between the United States and Japan. Both Governments reaffirmed that continued close cooperation in the area of satellite navigation will contribute to the peaceful development of the Asia-Pacific region and promote global economic growth.

Download the GPS/QZSS Technical Working Group report