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JAKARTA, Indonesia – Japan’s new prime minister pledged Wednesday to help Southeast Asian nations increase their maritime security capabilities as he used his first overseas trip as a leader to advance his country’s vision of greater international cooperation to counter China’s influence in the region.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, speaking in the Indonesian capital, also did a thinly veiled dig into China’s activities in the disputed South China Sea, where it has built and militarized artificial islands and is pushing to reclaim virtually all of the key fisheries in the world sea. and waterways.
Several Southeast Asian nations dispute China’s claims on the waters.
“In the Indo-Pacific that connects shipping between Japan and Asean, we can achieve peace and prosperity only by fully implementing the rule of law that allows anyone freedom and openness,” Suga said at a press conference in Jakarta. . Asean is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations of 11 countries.
“But in the South China Sea, opposite actions are being taken and we are watching closely with great concern,” Suga said. “Japan opposes any action that increases tensions in the South China Sea.”
Suga reiterated that all parties involved in the South China Sea disputes should make peaceful efforts towards a resolution, not by force or threat.
Suga pledged to strengthen bilateral defense ties with Southeast Asian nations and pledged further assistance to intensify his maritime surveillance, including training and transferring equipment from the Japanese Coast Guard.
Suga was wrapping up his visit to Indonesia, the second leg of his four-day tour that began in Vietnam. Suga chose Vietnam and Indonesia for his first overseas trip since succeeding Shinzo Abe as prime minister last month to demonstrate the importance of the region to Japan.
Japan views China’s growing military activity as a security threat and its defense documents have accused China of unilaterally changing the status quo in the South China Sea with its actions there. Japan is also concerned about China’s claim on the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands, called Diaoyu in China, in the East China Sea.
In both Indonesia and Vietnam, Suga has emphasized that Southeast Asian countries are key to achieving what Japan calls a “free and open Indo-Pacific,” a vision of economic and security cooperation between nations that was pioneered by Abe as a way to counter China. growing power and influence.
Suga denied criticism from China that the initiative is an attempt to create a NATO in Asia.
“Achieving a free and open rules-based Indo-Pacific in this region contributes to peace and prosperity for the entire world,” Suga said. The plan is not intended for special members, but “we can cooperate with any country that shares the opinion,” he added.
Suga agreed with Indonesian President Joko Widodo to work towards conducting a new round of defense and foreign affairs ministerial talks and accelerate ongoing negotiations for the transfer of defense technology and equipment. Suga signed a defense equipment export agreement with Vietnam on that leg of his trip.
Japan has defense equipment transfer agreements with 11 other countries, including the United States, Britain, the Philippines and Malaysia, and is negotiating with Thailand.
Japan relaxed its arms export ban in 2014 and has been promoting defense equipment exports ever since. AP
