Japanese Defense Minister Koizumi Shinjiro visited Indonesia and the Philippines from May 3 to 6 to meet separately with Indonesian Minister of Defense Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro. The main takeaway from these visits is that Japan has bolstered its security cooperation with Indonesia and the Philippines in an effort to enhance maritime security in East Asia.
Koizumi and Sjafrie signed the Defense Cooperation Arrangement (DCA), expanding cooperation in the areas of people-to-people exchanges, education and research, joint training, maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR), as well as defense equipment and technology cooperation. Under this arrangement, the two countries agreed to launch the “Integrated Defense Dialogue Mechanism” in order to further expand and deepen their defense partnership through dialogue at the ministerial level, vice-ministerial level, and between senior military leaders. The ministers also agreed to advance discussions on the protection of military information, with a view to strengthening operational cooperation between the two militaries. They also agreed to hold working-level consultations to advance cooperation in the field of defense equipment and technology that would contribute to enhancing maritime deterrence capabilities.
Meanwhile, in the Philippines, Koizumi and Teodoro reaffirmed their strong opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion in the East China Sea and the South China Sea, and expressed serious concerns over China’s coercive activities there. Additionally, they confirmed their intention to ensure the integrated functioning of existing and new consultation platforms at the levels of ministers of defense, vice ministers, and working-level officials of both defense establishments, covering policy, operations, and defense equipment and technology cooperation. The two ministers also agreed to establish an institutional framework for information sharing to enhance maritime domain awareness capabilities. They also issued a joint statement on defense equipment and technology transfer. In it, the ministers stated that, with the transfer of Abukuma-class destroyers to the Philippines in mind, they would establish a working group to discuss education and training, maintenance support, operational cooperation and information sharing, and appropriate management after transfer.
Given the content of the agreements between Japan and Indonesia and the Philippines, we can identify three major priorities Japan aims to achieve in maritime security cooperation with each country. The first is Japan’s emphasis on practical, effective security cooperation with the two countries to maintain maritime security in East Asia. By promoting integrated dialogue at the levels of ministers of defense, vice ministers, and working-level officials, Japan aims to share strategic awareness on maritime security, while also substantially deepening security cooperation by ensuring that political-level decisions on security cooperation are implemented more smoothly at the working level.
The second is Japan’s stepped-up information sharing essential for security cooperation. For Japan to share strategic awareness of the maritime domain with Indonesia and the Philippines and for the Self-Defense Forces and the two countries’ militaries to operate together, sensitive information held by each side must be exchanged. Japan aims to deepen its information sharing with both countries by entering into information security agreements, reflecting Japan’s growing emphasis on security cooperation.
The third is the promotion of the transfer of defense equipment and technology from Japan to Indonesia and the Philippines. If Self-Defense Forces equipment is transferred to both countries, it will not only strengthen their maritime security capabilities but also expand the common foundation supporting cooperation between the Self-Defense Forces and the military forces of both countries. Two countries operating the same equipment can jointly use command and communications systems, maintenance and supply facilities, and training programs. In Japan’s case, this would enable significantly expanded cooperation between the Self-Defense Forces and the military forces of Indonesia and the Philippines at the operational level.
Before Koizumi made his trip, the Japanese government significantly revised its policy on the transfer of equipment. Previously, it was only possible to transfer equipment in five non-lethal fields, but this limitation was abolished with a revision to the Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology, allowing the transfer of all types of equipment. Both Indonesia and the Philippines have already signed agreements with Japan on the transfer of defense equipment and technology, and serious preparations have taken place to facilitate the transfer of Abukuma-class destroyers to the Philippines. It is likely that the transfer of equipment to Indonesia to improve maritime security will also move forward in the future.
Koizumi’s visit to Indonesia and the Philippines clearly demonstrates Japan’s commitment to boosting cooperation with like-minded countries to ensure maritime security in East Asia. The joint statements with the two countries state that they agree to hold consultations when necessary to ensure the security of both countries together with regional peace and stability. As order within East Asia becomes more fluid, Japan looks set to more actively advance its security cooperation with both countries to maintain maritime stability in the region.
