we took up from an airport in djibouti north of somalia. that's where the sdf has its operation base. soon an sdf destroyer comes into view. it is escorting a cargo ship. after awhile, we spot a chinese naval ship. the crew on the japanese patrol plane makes radio contact with the vessel. >> translator: we asked each other if there was any information on pirate activity. >> reporter: japan's self-defense forces are cooperating with chinese troops in their daily operations of the coast of east africa. but that cooperation doesn't always extend to asia. this pc-3 aircraft belongs to an sdf unit in okinawa. pilots there use the plane to carry out surveillance activities near the senkaku islands in the east china sea. japan controls the islands. but china and taiwan claim the islands as their own. i ask the pilot about the sdf's competing missions when it comes to dealing with china. >> translator: i think we need to share information because we have a common interest in fighting piracy activities. >> reporter: this list shows the schedule of e

it's not a love-- where's djibouti? well, why are you asking us? is the internet down again? yeah, but where is it? south of france. south america. it's a country, it's not a city. a region of france. no, it isn't in france. it's not in south america, is it? brilliant. how come i get lumbered with the thick parents? ( door slams ) look, we don't need to panic about your dad. we don't need to make a decision now. well, i think we have, haven't we? come on. are you sure? no, but let's do it before i chicken out. dad, you know ashley's dad, who you were so rude about to ashley on the phone? i wasn't rude about him. i was honest. well, he's a paratrooper. right. yeah. no, he is. yeah, he's just come back from fighting the taliban. yeah, but i'll be all right, because thanks to you, he probably thinks i'm a killer. no, i told ashley you worked in a cake shop. a cake shop? yeah. why on earth? don't get involved. karen, do you think it's time you ought to be starting bath and bedtime? but i'm watching strictly come dancing, which-- which i missed last saturday when you said, "let's

they have helped us in somalia, djibouti, and ethiopia. there's a long way to go. the infrastructure is not there to help grow the economy, but i encourage u.s. companies to be more engaged in africa. there's a growing middle class presented opportunities for us. africom will be essential. that is one piece in developing aid and they're making a critical difference in their region. in his capacity building, the capacity of the local nations to govern and grow. of these are very important relationships and i was more optimistic about our relationship there. >> a quick follow up? >> did you hear anything new about al qaeda in africa, some of these terrorist groups? are you can talk about all? and are you hearing more affirmation of their growing were becoming more formidable? >> the good news outweighs the bad during the good news is we have had considerable success in somalia and in yemen. we have been contained in the arabian peninsula, the more robust threat at the moment. they have really yielded some substantial help. the bad news is what happened in mali, the c

capabilities to key strategic locations around the globe -- from northern australia to singapore, from djibouti to rota. combined with our traditional forward presence and other capabilities, these deployments will enhance our ability to train and to operate with partners, and to respond to future crises. to succeed in the efforts, we have to coordinate even more closely with the department of state. my goal is for the department of state to have a leading role in crafting and conducting u.s. foreign policy, so that we can reaffirm and strengthen our strategic approach to defense partnerships. but it is also clear that building partnership capacity is a key military mission for the future. a second area is to enhan dod's capabilities in this area. building strong partnerships around the world will require us to sustain and enhance american military strength. but all of the military services, and the department as a whole, also must adapt as partnering with foreign militaries becomes even more o a mainstay of the u.s. defense strategy. we have got to develop a "partnering culture." to that end,

capabilities to key strategic locations around the globe -- from northern australia to singapore, from djibouti to rota. combined with our traditional forward presence and other capabilities, these deployments will enhance our ability to train and to operate with partners, and to respond to future crises. to succeed in these efforts, we have to coordinate even more closely with the department of state. my goal is for the department of state to have a leading role in crafting and conducting u.s. foreign policy, so that we can reaffirm and strengthen our strategic approach to defense partnerships. but it is also clear that building partnership capacity is a key military mission for the future. a second area is to enhance dod's capabilities in this area. building strong partnerships around the world will require us to sustain and enhance american military strength. but all of the military services, and the department as a whole, also must adapt as partnering with foreign militaries becomes even more of a mainstay of the u.s. defense strategy. we have got to develop a "partnering culture." to that

capabilities to key strategic locations around the globe -- from northern australia to singapore, from djibouti to rota. combined with our traditional forward presence and other capabilities, these deployments will enhance our ability to train and to operate with partners, and to respond to future crises. to succeed in these efforts, we have to coordinate even more closely with the department of state. my goal is for the department of state to have a leading role in crafting and conducting u.s. foreign policy, so that we can reaffirm and strengthen our strategic approach to defense partnerships. but it is also clear that building partnership capacity is a key military mission for the future. a second area is to enhance dod's capabilities in this area. building strong partnerships around the world will require us to sustain and enhance american military strength. but all of the military services, and the department as a whole, also must adapt as partnering with foreign militaries becomes even more of a mainstay of the u.s. defense strategy. we have got to develop a "partnering culture." to that