Seeking Closer Ties with Southeast Asia

As his first foreign visit as the prime minister, excluding opportunities to attend to multilateral international conferences, Shigeru Ishiba visited Malaysia and Indonesia in mid-January. In the summit meetings with top leaders of both countries, Ishiba focused on enhancement of bilateral ties in security and economy. Ishiba hopes to strengthen bilateral relationship with coastal area of Southeast Asia to deal with advance of China in the region. 

In Kuala Lumpur on January 10th, Ishiba had a meeting with the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato’ Seri Amwar bin Ibrahim. Ishiba expressed his pleasure to visit Malaysia on his first bilateral visit as prime minister of Japan, insisting on importance of realization of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP). Anwar responded that he would work with Ishiba to deepen bilateral cooperation.

 

In security area, the leaders welcomed foreign vice-ministerial consultation and strategic dialogue between Japan and Malaysia. Ishiba affirmed progress of Japan’s official security assistance (OSA) as seen in provision of equipment for warning and surveillance including rescue boats. They also welcomed consensus for cooperation between Japan Coast Guard and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.

 

In economic area, they agreed on cooperation in supply chains resilience over semiconductors, aircraft parts and developing rare earth resources. They also confirmed stable supply of LNG from Malaysia as well as cooperation in the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZAC) platform, a framework for decarbonization by Japan, Australia and nine countries in Southeast Asia.

 

On January 11th, Ishiba met with President of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, at the Presidential Palace in the suburb of Jakarta. Both leaders agreed on five points: security, economy, disaster prevention, poverty and raising human resource.

 

To enhance bilateral security cooperation, the leaders confirmed that both governments launch high-level talks by ministers of foreign affairs and defense, which ordinarily are called “two plus two.” They signed on a document for Japan’s OSA in provision of high-speed guarding boats to Indonesian Navy. Japan is going to accept Indonesian students to the Japan National Defense Academy.

 

To promote energy security and decarbonation in Indonesia, the leaders reconfirmed cooperation over resources and infrastructures. They welcomed an agreement on financial support by Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) for the Muala Laboh Geothermal Power Project in the framework of AZEC. Japan offered further cooperation in disaster prevention and for introducing school lunch system.

 

Acknowledging growing developments in relationship between Southeast Asian countries and China, Japan hopes to regain its influence in Southeast Asia. Although Japan lost in competition over the sales of high-speed train system to Indonesia, Tokyo reaches Jakarta with advanced technology in such area as decarbonization or energy saving. Not only standing against China, Japan is building closer relationship with the region to prepare for unpredictability of incoming president of the United States.

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