(Provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only)
Today, I held defense ministerial meetings with Thailand, the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, and Malaysia. Let me begin with the Japan-Thailand Defense Ministerial Meeting. At the Japan-Thailand Defense Ministerial Meeting held in person for the first time in six years, we welcomed the intensification of unit-level exchanges, such as through participation in the multilateral exercise “Cobra Gold” held in Thailand, and concurred to strengthen bilateral and Japan-ASEAN defense cooperation. At the Japan-Philippines Defense Ministerial Meeting that followed, we confirmed to further deepen defense cooperation by also using the high-level framework for strategic operational cooperation that was established at the defense ministerial meeting in February. In addition, we discussed the promotion of defense equipment and technology cooperation. Subsequently, at the Japan-Australia Defense Ministerial Meeting, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Marles, who reassumed office following the recent federal election, and I concurred to continue enhancing bilateral defense cooperation in every area, including operational cooperation and joint trainings, and defense equipment and technology. At the Japan-New Zealand Defense Ministerial Meeting with Minister Collins, we confirmed and welcomed the steady strengthening of bilateral cooperation, such as bilateral training and the collaboration with Pacific Islands countries, and concurred on closely working together to further deepen cooperation. At the Japan-Malaysia Defense Ministerial Meeting, we welcomed the advancements of practical cooperation, such as the bilateral training between the naval components, and concurred to continue strengthening defense cooperation. We also concurred to promote Japan-ASEAN defense cooperation in close coordination with Malaysia that serves as the ASEAN chair this year. During this visit, over the course of two days, I held bilateral meetings with eight countries in total as well as the Japan-Australia-U.S. Defense Ministers’ Meeting and the Japan-Australia-Philippines-U.S. Defense Ministers’ Meeting. Furthermore, on various occasions, I exchanged views with many defense ministers. It was very meaningful that we not only reaffirmed the strengthening of the respective defense cooperation and collaboration but also forged personal relationships. In addition, in my speech yesterday, I proposed what I call the spirit of OCEAN—taking a broad and panoramic view of the Indo-Pacific region and generating synergy through enhanced collaboration and cooperation. I view that proposing this was extremely effective for working with countries to realize peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. The international security environment surrounding Japan is becoming increasingly severe. To maintain and strengthen a free and open international order based on the rule of law in this environment, I am committed to further strengthening defense cooperation by building on the outcomes of my visit to Singapore. In particular, my impression from talking with various countries about my OCEAN proposal is that they all express similar views and are of the same opinion.