New Partnership between Japan and ASEAN

The government of Japan hosted a special summit meeting with ASEAN in Tokyo. The leaders agreed on the Joint Vision Statement, which shared “fundamental principles in promoting peace, stability and prosperity in the region. Although Japan hopes to establish rule-based order in Asia to counter the advance of China, the structure of ASEAN countries is too diverse to be united.

The meeting was held to commemorate 50th year of ASEAN-Japan friendship and cooperation. As Fukuda Doctrine in 1977 aimed to heart-to-heart relationship between the two parties, Japan tried to reach the region with economic cooperation and development. With remarkable economic growth, ASEAN is now catching up Japan in GDP: $3.5 trillion in 2022 slightly behind of Japan’s $4.2 trillion. The joint statement is getting close to the declaration for equal partnership between them, based on a concept of “co-creation.”

 

The joint statement describes that “ASEAN and Japan will strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership that is meaningful, substantive and mutually beneficial” under three pillars: Heart-to-Heart Partners across Generations, Partners for Co-creation of Economy and Society of the Future, and Partners for Peace and Stability.

 

The leaders affirmed “the shared view to promote a rule-based Indo-Pacific region that is free and open, embraces key principles such as ASEAN’s unity and centrality, inclusiveness, transparency, complements ASEAN community building process.” The concept includes respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, settlement of differences or disputes by peaceful means, and renunciation of the threat or use of force.

 

The listing of those values may indicate the leaders’ intention to counter China’s advance to the region. The joint statement focuses on strengthening maritime security cooperation, disarmament and non-proliferation, and working towards a world without nuclear weapons, which reflect Japan’s security interest facing pressure of China or intimidation of North Korea.

 

In the background of the summit, Japan pledged security supports for Philippines and Malaysia with radar systems or rescue vessels through new framework called “overseas security assistance.” However, countries such as Cambodia or Laos opposed to include direct criticisms against China in the joint statement. They have close relationship with China through the development. Myanmar did not participate in the summit.

 

According to a report of Nikkei Shimbun. Japan’s share in the total amount of ASEAN’s trade dropped from 21%, the top in the world in 1990, to 7% in 2022. The position of Japan dropped to the fourth, following China (19%), United States (19%), and European Union (8%).

 

In the opening remarks by Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Co-chair of the summit, stressed that peace and stability would be maintained under the partnership of new generations. To promote comprehensive cooperation, Japan needs to keep the relationship sustainable, excluding an attitude to push its interests to ASEAN.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Amendment of Local Autonomy Law

The House of Representatives started discussion on revision of the Local Autonomy Law, which would vest the national government a power to instruct local government in an emergency. It may change the relationship between the national and local government, which has been recognized as equal. The opposition parties oppose the amendment, arguing that it would give the national government an excessive power.   With the Meiji Restoration, the national government abolished the feudal system, introducing modern governance. However, its autonomy was not sufficient. The governor of each prefecture was appointed by the national government. The local governments subordinated to the national government. It was as late as 2000 when  the Comprehensive Decentralization Law  was enacted and the relationship between the national and local government was defined as equal.   The national government found inconvenience in the relationship between the national and local government, when ...
Read more

Request for Final Nuclear Disposal Site

Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry requested Genkai Town, Saga, to accept “literature survey” for building a final disposal site for high-level radioactive waste. Genkai is going to answer within this month. If it accepts, it will be the third place to accept that survey, following two places in Hokkaido. Main reason to accept the survey is supposed to be subsidy from the national government.   Japan has no final disposal site. Among all 54 reactors in 17 nuclear power generation plant, 12 reactors of 6 plants are operating. The rest of them are not in operation, some of which are determined to be decommissioned. Used nuclear fuels are stocked in each plant, 　 or have sent to a reprocessing plant in Rokkasho, Aomori. There are two plans to stock nuclear wastes in the intermediate facility for disposal, one is already built and another is still in negotiation.   Nuclear Fuel Final Disposal Act in 2000 determines to bury nuclear waste in the underground. Literature survey, ...
Read more

Not A Royal Wedding

The bride called her husband an indispensable existence and their marriage was necessary choice to protect their mind. The groom insisted on his life as only once and his right to be with his loved one. Her father wanted his daughter’s marriage to be celebrated by the people. The people were not sure whether the family was happy as a whole. Is this the traditional Japanese social system that makes no one happy? Mako Komuro, as known as Princess Mako during her life in one of the royal family Akishino, held on Tuesday a press conference with her husband Kei Komuro, right after submitting marriage report to local government. It was something different from ordinary Q&A session, because Mako was afraid of her mental uneasiness brought by some questions not based on truth. So, the event was actually one-sided speech to the reporters. Mako emphasized that the Kei’s decision of studying abroad five years ago had not been his original idea, but a result of her request to establish an over...
Read more