Achieving the “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)” Vision
Japan Ministry of Defense’s Approach

Examples of Approaches in Southeast Asia and South Asia

Southeast Asia Contributing to the Security of Sea Lanes, Freedom of Navigation and Overflight in a Stable South China Sea

• Announcing “Vientiane Vision 2.0” on Japan-ASEAN defense cooperation; pursuing synergy with the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) to enhance defense cooperation in support of ASEAN centrality and unity
• Conducting joint training and capacity building programs with ASEAN members as part of the Indo-Pacific Deployment (IPD)
• Transferring defense equipment (five TC-90s to the Philippines)

South Asia Contributing to the Security of Sea Lanes and Access to Ports in a Stable Indian Ocean

• Conducting a capacity building program (air rescue) with the Sri Lankan Air Force
• Promoting JSDF port calls and aircraft visits to secure a stable and safe Indian Ocean region (Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Maldives and Bangladesh)

Examples of Approaches in Pacific Islands, Middle East and Africa

Pacific Islands Contributing to the Security of Sea Lanes and Building Mid- to Long Term Relations with Defense Officials

• Organizing the first-ever defense ministerial level multilateral meeting in Japan (JPIDD: Japan-Pacific Islands Defense Dialogue)
• Conducting a capacity building program with the PNG Defence Force (military band training)
• Promoting JSDF port calls and aircraft visits, as well as providing supplies through the multilateral exercise Operation Christmas Drop

Middle East / Africa Ensuring Energy Security; Enhancing Cooperation on JSDF Activities

• Actively participating in multilateral security councils in the Middle East, as evident in the Japan Defense Minister’s first-ever participation in the Manama Dialogue in Nov 2019. On this occasion, Defense Minister KONO delivered a speech on Japan’s efforts for maintaining the international maritime order based on the rule of law
• Promoting defense equipment and technology cooperation in the Middle East
• Promoting JSDF port calls and aircraft visits in order to secure regional stability (Oman, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain)
• Implementing a capacity building program with Djibouti with a focus on reinforcing disaster management skills
• Undertaking counter-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden

Japan’s Security Cooperation in the National Defense Program Guidelines 2018

Japan’s Basic Defense Policy

• Japan, with respect to national security, will identify national defense objectives and the means to achieve them, and proactively and strategically promote measures with added variety
• Japan creates a security environment desirable for Japan, deters external threats, and surely deals with those in the case those confront Japan, by synthesizing Japan’s overall defense capabilities even in peacetime
• In order to achieve Japan’s defense goals, Japan will strengthen each of the following means: ① Japan’s own defense architecture for national defense; ② the Japan-U.S. alliance; and, ③security cooperation

Strengthening Security Cooperation

• In line with the vision of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific”, Japan strategically promotes multifaceted and multilayered security cooperation, taking into account characteristics and situations specific to each region and country
• As part of this, Japan actively employs defense capabilities, and conducts defense cooperation and exchanges, including bilateral training and exercises, defense equipment and technology cooperation, capacity building programs, and service-to-service exchanges.