Defense Minister Iwaya's Participation in the 5th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus, the 4th ASEAN-Japan Defence Ministers' Informal Meeting, and Bilateral and Trilateral Defense Ministerial Meetings
October 21st, 2018
Ministry of Defense
(Provisional Translation)
From October 19th to 20th, Minister of Defense Iwaya attended the 5th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus (hereinafter "ADMM-Plus") and the 4th ASEAN-Japan Defence Ministers' Informal Meeting, and held meetings with some defense ministers of the countries represented at the ADMM-Plus. Brief summary of the meetings is as below.
1. The 5th ASEAN Defence Ministers' meeting-Plus
- (1) On October 20th, the 5th ADMM-Plus was held with the Minister-level participants from ten ASEAN Member States and eight Plus-countries. At the meeting, the outcomes of the ASEAN Defence Senior Officials' Meeting-Plus (ADSOM-Plus) held in July and the decisions made at the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) held on 19th were reported, and the Minister-level participants exchanged their views on security issues in the region. The meeting also adopted two joint statements on Confidence-Building Measures and Counter-Terrorism.
- (2) In his speech, Minister Iwaya stated that enhancing centrality and unity of ASEAN which is situated in the center of the Indo-Pacific region is important for maintaining and enhancing the "free and open Indo-Pacific," and stressed that the Japan Ministry of Defense and Self-Defense Forces continue committing ourselves actively in defense cooperation through the ADMM-Plus as well as putting efforts into a series of bilateral defense cooperation initiatives with respective ASEAN member states for the peace and stability in the region.
- (3) Also, in the field of confidence-building, he stated that Japan is strongly determined to oppose any attempt to unilaterally change the status-quo by coercion and disvaluing the rule of law in the Indo-Pacific region, and underscored the significance of ensuring the rule of law. In addition, he highly evaluated the efforts for confidence-building in the air domain, which bore fruits as the Guidelines for Air Military Encounters, or the 'Air Guidelines,' in the ADMM, and welcomed such positive efforts taken under the leadership of Singapore that contribute to confidence-building under the frameworks of the ADMM and ADMM-Plus, adding that fulfilling and developing the rule of law lead to confidence-building in the region.
- (4) As to the field of counter-terrorism, he stated that since the major part of the network of terrorism crosses national border, the international cooperation has become increasingly important, and that, from this aspect, Japan supports the "Our Eyes Initiative," the efforts taken by ASEAN member states towards information sharing regarding counter-terrorism. He also expressed the JMOD/SDF's willingness to give our best efforts for defense cooperation in the field of CBRN as well, making use of JMOD/SDF's experiences and expertise in countering chemical terrorism, given that the means of terrorism being diversified is one of its trend in the modern world.
<Reference> Participants other than Japan
(1) ASEAN Member States and Others
- Brunei Darussalam: Second Minister of Defence Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof
- Cambodia: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Samdech Pichey Sena Tea Banh
- Indonesia: Minister of Defense Ryamizard Ryacudu,
- Lao PDR: Minister of National Defense Chansamone Chanyalath
- Malaysia: Minister of Defence Haji Mohamad bin Sabu
- Myanmar: Minister for Defense Sein Win
- Philippines: Secretary of National Defense Miguel Delfin N. Lorenzana
- Singapore: Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen
- Thailand: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Prawit Wongsuwan
- Viet Nam: Minister of National Defence Ngo Xuan Lich
- ASEAN Secretariat: Deputy Secretary-General for Political Security Community Hoang Anh Tuan
(2) Plus Countries
- Australia: Minister for Defence Christopher Pyne
- China: Minister of National Defense Wei Fenghe
- India: Minister of Defence Nirmala Sitharaman
- New Zealand: Minister of Defence Ron Mark
- Republic of Korea: Minister of National Defense, Jeong Kyeongdoo
- Russia: Minister of Defence Shoigu Sergei Kuzhugetovich
- United States: Secretary of Defense James Mattis
2. The 4th ASEAN-Japan Defence Ministers' Informal Meeting
- (1) The 4th ASEAN-Japan Defence Ministers' Informal Meeting was held on October 20th and Ministers exchanged their views towards the practical Japan-ASEAN defense cooperation.
- (2) At the beginning of the meeting, Defense Minister Iwaya was introduced by Dr, Ng, Defense Minister of Singapore, the host of the meeting. Minister Ng opened the meeting by saying that at the meeting, the current status and the future development of the "Vientiane Vision," which is the guideline for Japan-ASEAN defense cooperation announced by Japan two years ago, would be discussed while touching upon the long history of over forty-five years of cooperation between Japan and ASEAN.
- (3) Minister Iwaya pointed out that the Indo-Pacific region is facing diversified and complex security challenges and it is necessary for us to work in concert to deal with the challenges promptly and effectively. He also shared his recognition that promoting defense cooperation between Japan and ASEAN that is even more practical has become increasingly important, maintaining its momentum under the 'Vientiane Vision.'
- (4) Minister Iwaya also stated that, in addition to the cooperation programs under the Vientiane Vision that we have already been implementing, the JMOD/SDF will be working on supporting the enhancement of interoperability among defense authorities in the region and promoting even more practical defense cooperation between Japan and ASEAN.
- (5) As one of the concrete proposals, he stated that Japan is going to promote confidence-building among air services of Japan and ASEAN as well as sharing the values for ensuring the rule of law by inviting Air Force officers from all ASEAN Member States to the Japan-ASEAN "Professional Airmanship Program" which is to be held in Japan. He also expressed his view that practical Japan-ASEAN defense cooperation is important for maintaining and enhancing the "free and open Indo-Pacific" and should be rooted in the needs posed by ASEAN. He also conveyed his willingness to enhance meetings with ASEAN, and the Ministers exchanged opinions for enhancing interactive meeting cycle.
- (6) Ministers of ASEAN Member States expressed their expectation towards promoting even more practical Japan-ASEAN defense cooperation in future as well as welcomed the progress in Japan-ASEAN defense cooperation in various ways since the 'Vientiane Vision' was announced, such as Japan-ASEAN Ship Rider Cooperation Program, Invitation Program on HA/DR and Opinion Leader Invitation Program.
3. Bilateral and Trilateral Meetings
Defense Minister Iwaya held a trilateral meeting with Ministers of the U.S. and Republic of Korea, and bilateral meetings with the U.S., China, Singapore and Republic of Korea (the meetings were held in the order as the summaries appear below).
