(Provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only)
As the Shangri-La Dialogue enters its final day today, I first held a Japan-Singapore defense ministerial meeting with Minister for Defence Chan of Singapore for the second time since our previous meeting in November of last year. Prior to the meeting, following yesterday’s dinner hosted by the President, Minister Chan gave me a tour of the city. Minister Chan introduced me to his friend, and we were able to spend meaningful time together, which further strengthened our personal relationship of trust. During the meeting, we welcomed the active people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, including high-level visits as well as unit-to-unit engagements such as port calls by vessels, and concurred on continuing such exchanges on a regular basis. Furthermore, we decided to establish new working groups of the JMOD-MINDEF Policy Talks under the direct supervision of Minister Chan and myself, and to promptly advance cooperation, such as in the maritime and air domains, cyber and space domains, defense industry and technological base, and information sharing. To review and encourage their progress, it was decided that Minister Chan and I would meet regularly. Singapore has long made significant contributions to regional peace and stability as the host of the Shangri-La Dialogue. Singapore is also ASEAN’s Country Coordinator for Japan and an important strategic partner for Japan. Under the leadership of Minister Chan and myself, we intend to further strengthen defense relations between Japan and Singapore. I then held my second Japan-Philippines defense ministerial meeting this month with Secretary of National Defense Teodoro of the Philippines. We established a working group comprising policy, operational, and equipment divisions at the previous defense ministerial meeting, and the two countries have since engaged in persistent discussions, with a view to realizing comprehensive equipment cooperation. At today’s meeting, building on the discussions within the working group, Secretary Teodoro and I reached a broad consensus to proceed with discussions with a view to transferring the Abukuma-class destroyers promptly after decommissioning, and one TC-90 aircraft to be decommissioned within Japan’s FY2027. Secretary Teodoro and I also shared the view that, in order to realize these transfers, detailed discussions, including those on training for the Philippine Navy, maintenance and sustainment, and the proper management of the equipment after transfer, should continue to be advanced within the working group, and further concurred in exercising our leadership to ensure early and tangible outcomes. Additionally, we welcomed the significant progress in defense cooperation, both institutionally and operationally, including participation in the Philippines-U.S. co-hosted Exercise Balikatan 41-26 multilateral joint exercise under the Japan-Philippines Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA), the signing of the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) in January this year, and the formal commencement of negotiations on the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA). We concurred on further strengthening defense cooperation. Today, I also delivered a speech during the Fifth Session. I received a large number of questions, and I believe I was able to articulate the importance of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP),” Japan’s efforts to reinforce its defense capabilities, the need for dialogue precisely because issues and frictions exist, Japan’s defense policy framework including revision of its framework concerning the transfer of defense equipment and technology, and the intention to strengthen cooperation with our ally and like-minded countries, including through defense equipment cooperation with a view to enhancing deterrence and response capabilities of the region. During this visit to Singapore, in addition to my meetings today with Singapore and the Philippines, I held bilateral meetings with the U.S., the U.K., the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, and Viet Nam, as well as the inaugural trilateral meeting among Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. I also had numerous opportunities to exchange candid views with defense ministers and others from ally and like-minded countries, including during receptions and meals. It was very beneficial to have the opportunity to clearly explain Japan’s defense policy, as well as to further strengthen personal relationships of trust with my counterparts. Through various exchanges of views during this Dialogue, my counterparts agreed with Japan on the importance of FOIP and expressed their understanding for our defense policy. I also felt that they had expectations for Japan to make further contributions to regional peace and stability. As I stated in my speech earlier, Japan will further strengthen cooperation with its ally and like-minded countries while placing importance on trust, transparency, and talks. Moreover, as a reliable partner, Japan is determined to make even further contributions to regional peace and stability by bringing together the independent efforts of countries using bilateral and multilateral frameworks, covering defense equipment cooperation. That concludes my opening remarks.