In emergency situations, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) can assist JCG in conducting law enforcement activities as stipulated in Article 82 of the Self-Defense Forces Law (SDFL), and the JCG may be incorporated under the direction of the Minister of Defense as stipulated in Article 80 of the SDFL. However, the JCG is not allowed to use force against foreign governments or naval vessels, and the JMSDF is likewise constrained in its operations in support of the JCG: in contrast, the China Coast Guard is allowed to use weapons against foreign governments or naval vessels, which are supposed to be protected by international law. With China stepping up its grey-zone activities to challenge Japan, taking advantage of the gap between JCG and JMSDF in particular, some Japanese LDP members have argued that the JCG should also be more forceful in its opposition. Organization National Headquarters The Japan Coast Guard is led by a Commandant and two Vice Commandants. Lower ranking officers include the director general, directors and inspector generals. Organization (as of April 1, 2009) Commandant Vice Commandant Vice Commandant for Operations Administrative Inspector General Administration Department Coast Guard Research Center Equipment and Technology Department Guard and Rescue Department Hydrographic and Oceanographic Department Maritime Traffic Department Coast Guard Academy (Kure) Coast Guard School (Maizuru) Moji Branch school (Kitakyushu) Miyagi Branch school (Iwanuma) The Japan Coast Guard Academy is a 4-year-training institution, located in Kure, Hiroshima prefecture, established within the Coast Guard for the purpose of training students to become officers. Graduates are given a bachelor's degree upon graduation. About 40 cadets graduate from the academy each year. Operational units Regional organization The JCG has divided the nation into eleven regions to facilitate its coast guard operations. Each region maintains a Regional Coast Guard Headquarters, under which there are various Coast Guard Offices, Coast Guard Stations, Air Stations, Hydrographic Observatory, and Traffic Advisory Service Centers. 1st Regional Coast Guard Headquarters: Otaru, Hokkaidō (claim to include southern Kuril islands but never conduct cruise operations under Soviet Union's/Russian presence) 2nd Regional Coast Guard Headquarters: Shiogama, Miyagi 3rd Regional Coast Guard Headquarters: Yokohama 4th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters: Nagoya 5th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters: Kobe 6th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters: Hiroshima 7th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters: Kitakyūshū 8th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters: Maizuru, Kyoto 9th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters: Niigata, Niigata 10th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters: Kagoshima 11th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters: Naha,