Japan envoy urges ASEAN to look at security issues ‘with fresh eyes’

Countries in the Asia-Pacific region should look at security challenges “with fresh eyes,” Japan’s ambassador to the Philippines said on Wednesday, amid growing tensions in the South China Sea. 

“As we all face the serious security challenges in this region, we also have to think creatively how we can address this matter with fresh eyes.,” Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya said at a national security forum in Makati City on Wednesday. 

Agreements among countries in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region are enough to keep the peace in the area, Philippine Navy spokesman Sea Roy Vincent Trinidad said on the sidelines of the forum.  

A security grouping of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) similar to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), as proposed by Japan’s prime minister, is unlikely to take off given “divergent views of ASEAN countries,” he added. 

Before taking office, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba floated the idea of forming a NATO-like security grouping in Asia. Tokyo is not pursuing the proposal, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya later said. 

“The issue has been raised during the process of the election within the party,” Mr. Endo said, referring to the prime minister’s proposal. “And so far, since he took the position of prime minister, he has not raised this matter in the formal setting.” 

China claims the South China Sea almost in its entirety, including waters that fall within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ). 

At the forum, Mr. Trinidad noted that other Southeast Asian neighbors have yet to voice out their support for the Philippines and adherence to international law. 

“We have seen individual ASEAN countries express statements of support for the Philippines,” he said. “We need more participation from other ASEAN countries in giving out not only support for the Philippines but speaking up also for international law.” 

Japan has been one of the Philippines’ key partners as the US, Manila’s major security ally, pivots to the Indo-Pacific region. 

While the US and other Western nations have avoided taking a position on the South China Sea dispute, they have opposed and openly called out moves that go against freedom of navigation and peaceful resolution of disputes. 

In his speech, Mr. Endo said Tokyo is committed to strengthening its trilateral ties with Manila and Washington.  

“Japan has been and will continue to be supportive of the Philippines in enhancing its maritime law enforcement capabilities,” he said. “We recognize the critical importance of the secure maritime domain for both our nations and the broader region.”  

After their trilateral summit in April, Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., US President Joseph R. Biden and then Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced a plan to establish an economic corridor on the main island of Luzon.  

The so-called Luzon Economic Corridor, which will be funded by the US with the help of Japan, seeks to focus on “high-impact” infrastructure projects such as rails and ports and strategic investments involving semiconductors, clean energy and supply chains.  

At the forum, Mr. Trinidad noted that recent joint military exercises among the Philippines, the US and its Western allies have helped deter China’s “aggressive” actions within the Philippine EEZ.  

China has been deploying navy, coast guard and maritime militia vessels to prevent the Philippines from accessing some key South China Sea features.  

Those actions had not been when the joint drills among the Philippines, US and other nations dubbed the Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MMCA) were being held, Mr. Trinidad said. “During the conduct of MMCAs, there have been no observed coercive and aggressive actions by the [People’s Liberation Army] Navy, Coast Guard or the maritime militia.”  

Such joint drills help Manila “buy time as we continue developing our capabilities,” he added.  

Mr. Trinidad, who expressed disappointment in ASEAN members for “not doing enough” to support international law, urged them not to “suffer in silence” amid China’s expansionist agenda. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza 

NOTE: This story was corrected to remove a quote about a NATO-like grouping unlikely to take off in ASEAN, which was misattributed to Mr. Endo. The story and title were changed to reflect the Japanese envoy’s remarks. We regret the error.