(Provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only)
I held a Japan-Australia Defense Ministerial Meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence of Australia the Hon Richard Marles MP over breakfast. In this meeting, we noted that Australia’s selection of the upgraded Mogami-class frigate as Australia’s preferred platform for the general-purpose frigates was a major step forward in elevating Japan-Australia defense cooperation, and confirmed that both countries will continue working together toward concluding the contract. We also exchanged views on the security environment in the Indo-Pacific and, in particular, shared serious concern regarding China’s activities in the South China Sea. In addition, we committed to demonstrating our leadership to expand Japan-Australia defense cooperation across all areas and strengthen the collective deterrence of Japan and Australia, and to coordinating to enhance trilateral cooperation with the United States (U.S.), a common ally. In addition, we engaged in proactive discussions about holding a Japan-Australia defense ministerial meeting and Japan-Australia-U.S. trilateral meeting at an early date and on the role the two countries should fulfill as the core of multilateral frameworks such as the SQUAD (Japan-Australia-U.S.-Philippines). Moreover, regarding the Japan-Laos Defense Ministerial Meeting, we signed the revised version of the Memorandum between Japan and Laos on Cooperation and Exchanges in the Field of Defense. Based on this revision, we will further expand cooperation in the Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief area. Moreover, in the Japan-New Zealand Defense Ministerial Meeting, I conveyed the fact that Japan would advance consultations in light of New Zealand’s interest in the Mogami-class frigate. Furthermore, we confirmed our intention to cooperate with each other in a variety of areas, namely joint exercises, development of the ACSA legal framework, and strengthening cooperation with the Pacific Island countries. In addition, I expressed my intention to hold a Japan-New Zealand Defense Ministerial Meeting in Japan at an early date. On my visit to Malaysia on this occasion, I was able to clearly explain the policies for strengthening the defense policy of the Takaichi Cabinet to the defense ministers of not only the ASEAN countries but also countries in the Indo-Pacific region, by participating in ADMM-Plus and the ASEAN-Japan Defence Ministers’ Informal Meeting and also holding a total of nine defense ministers’ meetings. Furthermore, regarding the transfer of equipment, I was able to hear about each country’s specific needs and expectations with respect to Japan’s outstanding equipment, including the Mogami-class frigates and the submarines, which contribute to maritime security. Therefore, the major result from my visit to Malaysia on this occasion was that I was able to hold candid exchanges of views face-to-face and build relationships of trust with each of the defense ministers. With these relationships of trust as the foundation, I will take the lead in moving forward with a sense of speed to provide strong support for a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)” in terms of defense and develop cooperation and collaboration with our allies, like-minded countries, etc.