Japan's Suga Begins Indonesia Tour Schedule... "Discussing Security and Economic Cooperation"

Containing China through Southeast Asia Visits

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki Ha-young] Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga arrived in Indonesia on the afternoon of the 20th to begin a 1-night, 2-day official visit. Prime Minister Suga is expected to emphasize linked cooperation of the "Indo-Pacific Initiative" to counter China.

According to Kyodo News, AP News, and others, after completing a welcoming ceremony and tree-planting event at the Bogor Presidential Palace on the outskirts of Jakarta, Prime Minister Suga will hold talks with President Joko Widodo. On the 21st, Suga will meet with Japanese businesspeople based in Indonesia, pay respects at the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery, which corresponds to Korea’s National Cemetery, and then return home after completing a total of four days of Southeast Asia tour.

Earlier, Suga chose Southeast Asia as his first overseas tour destination after taking office, visiting Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, first the day before. He met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and reached a basic agreement to sign a "Defense Equipment and Technology Transfer Agreement." Once this agreement is signed, defense equipment produced in Japan can be exported to Vietnam.

As in Vietnam, Prime Minister Suga is expected to emphasize linked cooperation between the "Free and Open Indo-Pacific Initiative" advocated by the U.S., Japan, and others, and the "Indo-Pacific Initiative" independently adopted by ASEAN in June last year, in Indonesia as well. Suga’s choice of Vietnam and Indonesia as his first overseas tour destinations is interpreted as an intention to counter China, which is focusing on advancing into the South China Sea despite opposition from ASEAN countries.

Japan hopes to strengthen security and defense industry cooperation with Indonesia. Kyodo News reported that Prime Minister Suga also wants to hold a "2+2" meeting involving the foreign and defense ministers of both countries as soon as possible to strengthen security cooperation with Indonesia.