If there’s one significant outcome of the recently concluded summit in Tokyo between leaders of ASEAN and Japan, it must be the agreement to strengthen maritime security cooperation.
While the summit was geared mainly toward boosting economic ties, it appears there was consensus among the participants that they should address China’s growing regional assertiveness as well.
Building a robust united front based on close maritime security cooperation is vital as Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea, a vital global trade corridor, on the basis of a fictional ten-dash line that’s sorely lacking in both historical and legal foundation.
Japan is well-placed to assist member-nations of the regional in seeing to it that the South China Sea remains open to global trade.
It has begun to beef up its military capability in recent years as soon as it became apparent that China would increasingly try to force its will against other countries like the Philippines also claiming ownership of parts of the South China Sea.
Japan is also engaged in a territorial despite with Beijing over Senkaku island.
Hence, it has been ramping up defense spending lately despite its post-war pacifist stand not to rearm itself.
But with the changed geopolitical situation in the Indo-Pacific region, it has decided to boost its own military capability and to enhance security cooperation with other countries in the Asia-Pacific region to protect its own national interest.
Last month, Japan agreed to provide the Philippines with loans amounting to billions of US dollars for new coast guard vessels and a sophisticated radar system.
This, after Chinese Coast Guard vessels harassed our own vessels with water cannons and deliberate ramming incidents.
Our security ties with Japan are expected to deepen with negotiations on a Reciprocal Access Agreement that would include provisions for the deployment of troops on each other’s soil. This is a positive development that bears watching.
It’s not just with the Philippines that Japan is forging security arrangements.
Reports indicate that Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has discussed with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim the possibility of providing Malaysia with rescue boats and drones under a new security framework.
In September, militaries from ASEAN nations held their first-ever joint exercises, although host Indonesia insisted they were non-combat drills, focusing on areas such as disaster relief and maritime patrols.
The recent ASEAN-Japan summit stressed the need for a “rules-based Indo-Pacific region that is free and open”, the peaceful settlement of disputes, and respect for territorial integrity. But is China listening?
That’s not likely, we’re afraid.
Asked about the ASEAN summit, China’s foreign ministry said it “believed that any cooperation should be conducive to advancing mutual trust and promoting common development…and any cooperation should not target third parties,” apparently referring to the United States.