Japan courts Indonesia with defence equipment as it seeks to counter China’s influence in Asia
The “two-plus-two” security talks are the first between Japan and a member of Asean
Japan has agreed with Indonesia to start negotiations on the transfer of defence equipment and technology to the Southeast Asian country, as they aimed to forge stronger ties amid China’s muscle-flexing in the South China Sea.
Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida made the announcement during a joint press conference with his Indonesian counterpart as well as the Japanese and Indonesian defence ministers, following their first “two-plus-two” security talks in Tokyo.
The agreement was reached during the first such talks between Japan and a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).
Japan has been trying to boost security ties with the 10-country Asean amid China’s muscle-flexing in the South China Sea.
Indonesia is a leader in Asean and has a major influence in Southeast Asia’s international politics. It has a big say on how Asean is moving forward
Japanese Defence Minister Gen Nakatani said dialogue is the key to settle disputes in the South China Sea. Some Asean members are embroiled in overlapping territorial claims in that sea with Beijing.
