Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will address Japan Coast Guard personnel when he visits the northern Australian city of Darwin in mid-November, government officials said.
The prime minister will address JCG personnel on the patrol vessel Echigo to stress the importance of the "rule of law at sea" and "freedom of navigation," and to state his intention to work toward realizing a "free and open Indo-Pacific region," which Japan has been championing.
The prime minister plans to give the speech on Nov. 17. Echigo has been conducting anti-piracy and other missions in waters around southeast Asian nations for about a month since mid-October. The vessel is scheduled to make a port call in Darwin from Nov. 14 to Nov. 17.
Darwin is located between the Pacific and Indian oceans and close to the South China Sea, where China has been building military bases on man-made islands. The United States has been stationing marines on rotation in Darwin since 2012.
By visiting the strategically important location, Abe plans to demonstrate his determination to strengthen cooperation between Japan, the United States and Australia.
Prior to speaking on the JCG vessel, the prime minister will hold his first summit talks with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who assumed the post in August. The two leaders are expected to agree to work together on improving the maritime security capabilities of southeast Asian and Pacific island nations.
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