Japanese prime minister Shigeru Ishiba, who is known for his pro-China stance, made his career as an anti-Abe proponent and spent his recent career opposing the policies of Abe. However, in his meeting with U.S. president Donald Trump on February 7, he embraced Abe’s policy of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Shinzo Abe, Japan’s longest-serving prime minister of nine years who was assassinated on July 8, 2022, was the architect of the Indo-Pacific strategy. The core idea is to establish a rules-based international order and consolidate principles such as free trade, freedom of navigation, and the rule of law, which are essential for the stability and prosperity of the region.
Abe had the foresight and the political will to recognize and raised the awareness that the rapid growth of an assertive and aggressive Communist Party of China, fueled by the world’s second largest economy, would pose a threat to the rules-based global order. He formally introduced the Indo-Pacific strategy in 2016. In 2019, the U.S. Department of State published a document formalizing the concept of a free and open Indo-Pacific. Chinese officials have criticized the strategy as a tool to contain China.
In a joint leaders’ statement after the meeting in Washington D.C, both Trump and Ishiba affirmed their determination to pursue a new golden age for U.S. – Japan relations that upholds a free and open Indo-Pacific and brings peace and prosperity to a violent and disorderly world.
The statement stated: “The two leaders expressed their shared desire for bilateral security and defense cooperation under the U.S.-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security to grow stronger than ever, and emphasized that the U.S.-Japan Alliance remains the cornerstone of peace, security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. Japan reiterated its unwavering commitment to fundamentally reinforce its own defense capabilities, which the United States welcomed.
“The United States underscored its unwavering commitment to the defense of Japan, using its full range of capabilities, including nuclear capabilities. The two leaders reaffirmed that Article V of the U.S. – Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security applies to the Senkaku Islands, and reiterated their strong opposition to any action that seeks to undermine Japan’s longstanding and peaceful administration of the Senkaku Islands.
“In line with the U.S. – Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security and the U.S. – Japan Guidelines for Defense Cooperation, Japan reaffirmed its role in maintaining peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region by seamlessly responding to any situation from peacetime to contingencies. This has been further enabled by Japan’s 2015 Legislation for Peace and Security, which enhances U.S. – Japan Alliance deterrence and response capabilities.”
In an increasingly severe and complex security environment, both leaders have given out clear signals they would enhance defense and security cooperation and increase bilateral presence in Japan’s Southwest Islands. Additionally, they also intend to advance cooperation among like-minded countries, including Japan – Australia – India – U.S. (Quad), Japan – U.S. – South Korea, Japan – U.S. – Australia, and Japan – U.S. – Philippines.
The U.S. welcomed Japan’s commitment, underpinned by a favorable trend of its defense budget increase, to building capabilities by 2027 to consolidate its primary responsibility for defending Japan, and, building on this significant foundation, to fundamentally reinforcing its defense capabilities beyond 2027.
Importantly, both Trump and Ishiba reiterated their strong opposition to any attempts by China to change the status quo by force or coercion in the East China Sea. The two leaders reaffirmed their strong opposition to China’s unlawful maritime claims, militarization of reclaimed features, and threatening and provocative activities in the South China Sea.
The two leaders also emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as an indispensable element of security and prosperity for the international community. They encouraged the peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues, and opposed any attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force or coercion. The two leaders expressed support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations.
Photo credit: iStock/ Dilok Klaisataporn
