Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba visited Jakarta, where he held talks with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on a range of bilateral issues, including maritime security and energy cooperation. The visit underscores Japan’s growing diplomatic engagement with Southeast Asia.
Key Highlights of Visit:
- Japan’s Maritime Security Cooperation: Japan will provide Indonesia with two high-speed patrol boats to enhance regional maritime security, particularly in the context of territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
- Bilateral Talks: Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto held discussions on various bilateral issues, including maritime security and defense cooperation.
- Official Security Assistance (OSA): The provision of high-speed patrol boats will be Japan’s first such assistance to Indonesia, marking an important step in their security cooperation.
- Defense Consultations: Both countries agreed to establish working-level defense consultations to discuss maritime security and technical cooperation in defense equipment.
- Decarbonized Energy Cooperation: Japan and Indonesia also agreed to collaborate in the decarbonized energy sector, focusing on geothermal power, hydrogen, ammonia, and biofuels.
- Regional Engagement: Ishiba highlighted the importance of strengthening ties with Southeast Asian nations, specifically with Malaysia and Indonesia, as key priorities for Japan’s foreign policy.
- Japan-U.S. Cooperation: Ishiba emphasized the need for deeper diplomatic and security engagement between Japan, the United States, and Southeast Asia to ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
- China’s Territorial Claims: Japan is concerned about China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea, particularly its military activities in disputed regions like the East China Sea and around the Senkaku Islands.
- Defense Assistance to the Philippines: Japan is also providing security assistance to the Philippines, which has territorial disputes with China, including through a defense pact that allows mutual troop deployment.
- Japan’s Foreign Policy Focus: Ishiba’s official visits to Malaysia and Indonesia underscore Japan’s strategic focus on Southeast Asia, aiming to enhance security and economic cooperation with these nations.
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