Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and ASEAN member states have agreed to deepen security and economic cooperation amidst China’s efforts to enhance its influence in the region through military advancements. This agreement comes in light of recent incidents where Chinese coast guard ships engaged in aggressive activities near disputed areas in the South China Sea.
Tensions have been rising, with Chinese vessels colliding with Philippine boats and using water cannons against Philippine vessels, resulting in injuries. At the Japan-ASEAN meeting in Vientiane, Kamikawa highlighted the importance of a free and open Indo-Pacific, countering China’s claims over the region.
China’s rapid construction of artificial islands with military facilities in the South China Sea has raised concerns, given the area’s significance as a major shipping route. ASEAN, consisting of ten member states, including Brunei, Indonesia, and Vietnam, aims to strengthen ties with Japan in response to the challenging geopolitical landscape.
In a summit last December, Japan and ASEAN reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing cooperation in security and economic spheres, marking 50 years of friendship and partnership.
© KYODO