Japan vows stronger defense cooperation with ASEAN amid China concerns
Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi on Wednesday vowed closer cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Manila to help them defend their territories and territorial waters amid concerns over China's assertive actions in the region. Speaking at an annual meeting with ASEAN foreign ministers, Motegi described the 11-member…
Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi on Wednesday vowed closer cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Manila to help them defend their territories and territorial waters amid concerns over China's assertive actions in the region. Speaking at an annual meeting with ASEAN foreign ministers, Motegi described the 11-member regional bloc as "core" to realizing Japan's vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific, while noting that international order based on the rule of law is facing "various challenges. "He pledged closer cooperation with ASEAN on economic security, including critical mineral supply chains, as well as support in areas such as artificial intelligence and disaster response. "Our goal is to build a stronger and more prosperous region together. We want to continue strengthening our relationship of trust," he said. ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, as well as new member East Timor. Earlier Wednesday, the foreign ministers of Japan, the United States, Australia and India reaffirmed their commitment to closer cooperation with ASEAN, saying they will deepen collaboration with the group as "comprehensive strategic partners. "The Quad ministers said they will expand cooperation in maritime security, critical and emerging technologies, and humanitarian assistance with the Southeast Asian nations. The meeting came less than two months after the previous Quad foreign ministers' meeting in New Delhi, which sought to underscore the unity of the forum as U. S. President Donald Trump weighs the significance of the grouping under his "America First" mantra. U. S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been eager to hold the first Quad leaders' summit since September 2024 before the end of the year. The Quad is widely viewed as a counterweight to China's rise. A Quad leaders' summit planned in India last year was shelved after U. S. -India ties deteriorated over New Delhi's purchases of Russian crude oil despite Moscow's war on Ukraine. Motegi also joined Rubio and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun for trilateral talks Wednesday, where they affirmed the importance of maintaining a "unified approach" toward North Korea while committing to its complete denuclearization and coordinating against cyber threats, according to the U. S. State Department. They also emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and noted "with concern" China's lack of sufficient notification of its recent intercontinental ballistic missile launch into the Pacific Ocean, it said. During a conference on cooperation among East Asian countries for Palestinian development, Motegi said the Japan-led framework, launched in 2013, is committed to expanding support toward realizing the so-called two-state solution for establishing an independent state of Palestine alongside Israel to resolve their longstanding conflict. © KYODO