With the international order being shaken as the spread of the novel coronavirus has not been brought under control, it is significant for countries that value freedom and democracy to strengthen their cooperation.
The foreign ministers of Japan, the United States, Australia and India met in Tokyo and agreed to promote the "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" vision. After meeting last year, this was their second meeting, and they have decided to regularize the gatherings. These four countries, which share fundamental values, have an important responsibility to maintain the international order.
At the meeting, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi urged other participating countries to cooperate in realizing the vision.
Aiming for peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region through the Indian Ocean to Africa, the vision looks to establish the international order based on rules, including the rule of law and freedom of navigation.
Proposed by then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, it is supported by the United States. Inheriting and further developing the foreign policies of the previous administration will help increase the presence of Japan's diplomacy in the international community.
This was the first international ministerial meeting held in Japan since the outbreak of the coronavirus. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga met with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and confirmed that the two countries would further strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance and cooperate in dealing with North Korea's abduction of Japanese nationals.
China has repeatedly attempted to unilaterally change the status quo in the East China Sea and the South China Sea. It is important for Japan, based on the Japan-U.S. alliance, to cooperate with Australia, India and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to urge China to exercise self-restraint.
In September, Japan and India signed an acquisition and cross-servicing agreement that allows the Self-Defense Forces and India's military to provide each other with supplies such as food and fuel. Japan has already concluded such an agreement with the United States and Australia. Steadily repeating joint exercises and other efforts among them will serve to hold China's self-righteous behavior in check.
If cooperation among the four countries extends to the economy and cybersecurity, it would greatly contribute to regional stability.
On the economic front, they have different interests. India has announced that it will withdraw from the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership negotiations in which Japan, Australia and China are participating. New Delhi fears that cheap imports will flow into India as a result of tariff cuts. Getting India to return to RCEP negotiations is a challenge.
Suga is scheduled to visit Vietnam and Indonesia in mid-October on his first overseas trip since he assumed the post of prime minister. This may be an indication of Suga's stance to place emphasis on Southeast Asia.
European countries, including Britain, France and Germany, also have an increasingly high opinion of the "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" vision. This may be due to growing wariness over China's hegemonic behavior.
Tokyo and Beijing are said to be considering having Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi make a visit to Japan. Japan must persistently urge China to change its behavior that risks destabilizing the region.
-- The original Japanese article appeared in The Yomiuri Shimbun on Oct. 7, 2020.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
