Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has held talks with the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. He expressed his intention to step up security cooperation between Japan and the ASEAN nations for the peace and stability of the region.
Ishiba spoke at the start of the talks in Laos on Thursday. The discussions continued for about one hour. He stated that Japan and ASEAN have built a relationship of trust over the past half a century and he is resolved to further strengthen this relationship.
The prime minister said Japan hopes to build a future with ASEAN nations. He pointed out that ASEAN and Japan share key values such as freedom, democracy, and the rule of law and that ASEAN is a global growth center.
Ishiba went on to say that Japan will promote cooperation with ASEAN in a broad range of fields, such as person-to-person exchanges, natural disaster responses, energy, and digitalization — based on a joint statement and a multi-year implementation plan adopted at an ASEAN-Japan summit last December.
With China’s growing maritime assertiveness and economic coercion in mind, Ishiba also said that Japan intends to step up security cooperation with ASEAN, including maritime cooperation, to maintain the peace and stability of the region. He also called for cooperation in efforts to strengthen supply chains, and in cybersecurity.
ASEAN leaders pointed out that unilateral actions that are taking place in the East and South China Seas are undermining regional stability.
Ishiba said in response that Japan is strongly opposed to any activities in the East China Sea that undermine Japan’s sovereignty. He went on to say he is also deeply concerned that militarization and coercive activities in the South China Sea have been continuing and escalating.
He also stressed the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. He said Japan will continue to maintain close communications with China at all levels of government to help maintain regional peace.
Ishiba expressed concern that North Korea has continued with its nuclear and missile development in violation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
Ishiba asked ASEAN leaders for their help in efforts to realize a Korean Peninsula without nuclear weapons, and to bring home all the Japanese people who were abducted to North Korea in the 1970s and 80s.