Japan, ASEAN agree to strengthen maritime security cooperation
Senior defense officials from Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations agreed Tuesday to strengthen cooperation on maritime security as they met in the city of Yokohama near Tokyo to promote freedom of navigation at sea.
The officials at the vice ministerial level shared the view that Japan and ASEAN need to pursue defense technology cooperation, according to a statement issued after the meeting of the sixth Japan-ASEAN Defense Vice-Ministerial Forum.
Japan has been trying to bolster security ties with ASEAN amid China's assertiveness in the East and South China seas. Some ASEAN member states, such as Vietnam and the Philippines, are embroiled in territorial disputes with China.
Potential areas of coordinated action include the sharing of information and rules related to maritime affairs, defense exercises, disaster relief and antipiracy measures.
In his message read at the forum, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stressed the importance of resolving disputes in a peaceful manner and observing the rule of law. Abe also called Japan and the 10-member regional bloc "natural partners in the sea of Asia."
At the gathering, Akira Sato, senior vice defense minister, said there had been unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force and intimidation, without naming any country, making his case for further coordination among the participating nations.
The officials also discussed the importance of defense talks among ASEAN and its eight partners such as the United States and China, according to the statement.
Japan, ASEAN agree to strengthen maritime security cooperation | GlobalPost