(Press Release)
December 28, 2021
Japan Ministry of Defense
Video Teleconference between Japan’s Minister of Defense and Brunei Darussalam’s Minister of Defence II
On December 28, 2021, commencing from 1600 for approximately 35 minutes, Minister KISHI held a video teleconference with The Honorable Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Retired) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, Minister of Defence II of Brunei Darussalam.
1. Minister Kishi and The Honorable Pehin Halbi exchanged views on bilateral defense cooperation and exchanges. They welcomed the completion of the coordination for Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Defense of Japan and the Ministry of Defence of Brunei Darussalam on Defense Cooperation and Exchanges. They shared the views that Japan and Brunei Darussalam will continue coordination to sign the Memorandum at the earliest opportunity. They also concurred that Japan and Brunei Darussalam will further promote bilateral defense cooperation and exchanges through programs such as exchanges in various levels, port visits, and bilateral exercises.
2. They also exchanged views on multilateral cooperation where Minister Kishi announced Japan’s entry to ASEAN Direct Communications Infrastructure (ADI) which is Brunei Darussalam’s initiative under the ADMM framework. Minister Kishi expressed his intention to make the best use of ADI to develop closer communication with ASEAN Defense Ministers and proactively contribute to peace and stability of the region. The Honorable Pehin Halbi welcomed Minister Kishi’s remarks.
Further, Minister Kishi expressed great appreciation for Brunei Darussalam’s leadership as the chairman of ASEAN this year. They concurred that they will maintain close cooperation toward the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) which is scheduled to be held in November 2022.
3. Minister Kishi and The Honorable Pehin Halbi exchanged views on the regional security issues. Minister Kishi reiterated the importance of freedom of navigation and overflight, and reaffirmed the critical need for observing international law based primarily on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and his intent to reinforce within the international community their steadfast opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by coercion.
Minister Kishi condemned the launches of ballistic missiles by North Korea, which violates UNSC resolutions and he conveyed his view that North Korea’s repeated launches of ballistic missiles pose a serious challenge to the international community as a whole.
Concerning the situation in Myanmar, Minister Kishi stated the importance of progressing the “Five-Point Consensus” into concrete results and shared his intention to fully support ASEAN’s initiatives.