Foreign and Defence Ministers of Japan and Indonesia met last Thursday to discuss several possible collaborations in order to strengthen security in the South China Sea region. Their pact includes Japan to export defence weapons and technologies to Indonesia.
The South China Sea has been a source of territorial dispute due to its abundance of natural resources and key shipping lanes that are essential to the trade of nations connected by it.
Several nations have sought for peaceful relations in order to enhance peace and security in the region.
The collaboration between Japan and Indonesia could lead to essential technological transfers including an amphibious vehicle which can serve Indonesia’s disaster relief activities.
Indonesia’s Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu highlighted the key benefits of this pact for Indonesia.
"Japan’s security law has been revised. In that relation, Indonesia will be able to strengthen cooperation in the transfer of defence equipment, counter terrorism measures and humanitarian aid." he said
Just last week, Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met with Indian Prime Minister Mahendra Modi to agree on several ties including building a high speed railway in India. Their collaboration was also geared towards strengthening unity amongst countries over the South China Sea region.
Japan acknowledges that the nation of over 250 million as a key market for tourism.
“Indonesia is the world’s biggest Muslim nation. We have agreed to cooperate on bilateral tourism.” Said Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida.
Japan also intends to step up military operations in several of their neighbouring nations. Minister Kishida spoke on the agreement involving Japan’s Self Defence Force.
"Next year, Indonesia will host a multi-nation drill. We want our Self Defence Force to take part for capacity building, and to enhance dialogue between defence officials. So we have agreed on the specifics of this."
The agreement comes as a relief to the mounting tensions over competing maritime claims in the South China Sea. Minister Ryacudu also expressed his optimism in enhancing stability of the region through this partnership during a press conference on Thursday.
(Image from AFP)
