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Tokyo, Japan — Southeast Asian and Japanese leaders in Tokyo on Saturday will commit to strengthening “maritime security cooperation”, according to a draft statement seen by AFP, at a summit focussed on boosting economic ties but also China’s growing regional assertiveness.
Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea, a vital trade corridor, and its increasingly aggressive behaviour in disputed areas has riled nations across the region as well as Washington.
Close US ally Japan, which also has competing territorial claims with China, is upping its military spending and has boosted security cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.
According to the draft of the summit’s final statement, Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will commit to “(strengthen) security cooperation, including maritime security cooperation”.
The leaders are also expected to stress the need for a “rules-based Indo-Pacific region that is free and open”, the peaceful settlement of disputes, and respect for territorial integrity.
Japan last month agreed to loan the Philippines — which has seen a spate of incidents involving Chinese vessels in recent weeks — hundreds of millions of dollars for new coast guard vessels and to supply a radar system.
