The 10th Japan-ASEAN Defense Vice-Ministerial Forum

The 10th Japan-ASEAN Defense Vice-Ministerial Forum was held by the Japan Ministry of Defense (JMOD) in Nagoya from Sunday, 9th to Monday, 10th September 2018.

Mr. Ro Manabe, Japan's Vice-Minister of Defense for International Affairs took the chair at the forum, and officials at the Vice-Ministers/Secretary and other levels from all ASEAN member states and the ASEAN Secretariat participated in the forum.

During the main sessions on the 10th, the participants exchanged their views on the following agenda: 1) Challenges in and Efforts for Sharing Universal Values focusing on the Rule of Law; 2) Challenges and Efforts in Coping with Disasters; and 3) Vision for Further Deepening Japan-ASEAN Defense Cooperation.

The summary of discussions is as follows.

• The participants confirmed the achievements of the Japan-ASEAN Defense Vice-Ministerial Forum which reached the 10th anniversary this year, and agreed on the importance of further developing the Japan-ASEAN defense cooperation utilizing the Forum.
• The participants candidly exchanged their views on the security environment of the Indo-Pacific region, and agreed that it is important to promote sharing the universal values focusing on the rule of law in light of the increasingly complex and diversifying threats as well as to improve the capabilities to respond to frequent disasters. They also agreed on the recognition that, in order to do so, it is important that the defense authorities of Japan and ASEAN work in close cooperation.
• The participants from ASEAN commended Japan's defense cooperation with ASEAN and expressed their expectation for its further advancement. In response, Japan expressed its willingness to proactively promote concrete defense cooperation with ASEAN in various forms including the defense cooperation programs and defense equipment and technology cooperation under the "Vientiane Vision."

JMOD invites a defense minister from an ASEAN member state as a part of the forum. This year, JMOD invited the Honorable Haji Mohamad bin Sabu, Minister of Defence Malaysia.

On the 10th, the Honorable Haji Mohamad bin Sabu delivered a special address on "Defense Cooperation of the New Mahathir Administration." In addition to stating his views on regional situations, the Honorable Haji Mohamad bin Sabu stressed the importance of strengthening the regional security cooperation with ASEAN in its center such as ADMM-Plus to solve regional security issues, and of further deepening Japan-ASEAN defense coopetation.

Also on the 10th, Mr. Keitaro Ohno, Japan's Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Defense, gave a welcome speech, congratulating on Japan-ASEAN Defense Vice-Ministerial Forum's 10th anniversary and expressing his respect for the great effort of ASEAN member states and the ASEAN Secretariat to strengthen ASEAN unity and centrality. He also stated that Japan will continue its effort towards the regional and global peace and prosperity under Japan's Indo-Pacific Strategy, and proactively promote defense cooperation with ASEAN under the "Vientiane Vision."