Japan Identifies Three Reasons for Deteriorating Security in Southeast Asia

Istanbul (ANTARA) – Japan on Wednesday (28 October) highlighted “three reasons” behind the “rapidly deteriorating” security environment in Southeast Asia, and pledged support for ASEAN, which has 11 member states.

“Natural disasters are becoming more severe, paralysing communications, healthcare and transport sectors simultaneously,” Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said at a joint ASEAN defence ministers’ meeting in Cebu, the Philippines, which currently holds the ASEAN chairmanship.

Alongside natural disasters, which he described as the first reason, Koizumi cited conflicts in various parts of the world that affect supply chains and energy supplies as the second. The third, he said, was a rapidly shifting military balance that increases the risk of clashes and the possibility of dangerous miscalculations.

“These crises are not merely adapting; they overlap and reinforce one another,” Koizumi said, emphasising the importance of ASEAN’s “unity, centrality and resilience”.

“Japan values these three aspects because they are international public goods that safeguard peace, prosperity and every country’s freedom to determine its own choices,” he said.

Koizumi said ASEAN member states “are strengthening their own capabilities to respond and deter”.

“Collectively, ASEAN is addressing various shared challenges, from disaster management to maritime security. These efforts complement one another, and Japan … will support both,” he said.

“Our goal is simple: to broaden the choices available to ASEAN and each of its member states, so they can understand, decide and act independently,” the Japanese defence minister said, urging ASEAN and Japan to “renew areas of cooperation”.

He pledged that Japan “will make every effort” to turn ASEAN’s “choices” into “real strength”.

The meeting in Cebu City comprised the 20th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and the 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus). Defence ministers from the US, China, South Korea, Japan, Australia and India also took part, although China did not send its defence minister this year.