The 13th Japan-ASEAN Defense Vice-Ministerial Forum

　On January 30, 2024, the JMOD/SDF held the 13th Japan-ASEAN Defense Vice-Ministerial Forum.

　The Forum was chaired by Mr. Serizawa, Japan’s Vice-Minister of Defense for International Affairs. Participants from ASEAN Member States (AMS) (*) and ASEAN Secretariat attended the Forum, and Timor-Leste, which AMS agreed in-principle to be admitted as a member of ASEAN, participated as an observer for the first time.

　During the Forum, Defense Vice-Ministers revisited the “Japan-ASEAN Ministerial Initiative for Enhanced Defense Cooperation: JASMINE,” which was proposed by Minister of Defense Kihara at the 8th ASEAN-Japan Defence Ministers’ Informal Meeting held in November 2023, and exchanged views towards implementing the new projects. Bilateral meetings with participating countries and organizations were also held on the sideline of the Forum.

(*) On this occasion, ASEAN Member States Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam participated.

　A summary of the Forum is as follows.

• Amid an increasingly severe and complex security environment, Japan emphasized the need to advance Japan-ASEAN defense cooperation to a new level under the “JASMINE” based on “the shared view to promote a rules-based Indo-Pacific region that is free and open,” as affirmed in the Joint Vision Statement adopted at the Commemorative Summit for the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation in December 2023.
• On that basis, Japan once again explained the four pillars of the “JASMINE” and made a presentation on specific defense cooperation to be promoted under these pillars.
• ASEAN Member States expressed their support for the “JASMINE” and presented inputs for advancing this initiative further.
• Japan and ASEAN Member States agreed to further contribute to the peace and stability of the region by advancing Japan-ASEAN defense cooperation to a new level.