Asia

Minister Hayashi stated that as it becomes increasingly important to realize a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP),” Japan consistently supports ASEAN centrality and unity and highly values ASEAN-led frameworks including EAS, which is the premier forum of political and security issues in the region. He also reiterated Japan’s consistent support for “ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP),” and that Japan continues to steadily implement concrete cooperation.

• (1) Situation in Ukraine
  Minister Hayashi stated that Japan strongly condemns Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, which infringes upon sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and constitutes a grave breach of the United Nations Charter which prohibits the use of force. He also emphasized that such unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force is absolutely unacceptable anywhere in the world including Asia. In addition, Minister Hayashi stated that any threat, let alone use, of weapons of mass destruction should never be tolerated. While pointing out that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has caused energy and food price hikes, Minister Hayashi urged Russia to stop the aggression immediately and to fulfill its responsibility to improve the situation, including the implementation of the four-party agreement to resume grain export.
  Some countries expressed condemnation towards Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
• (2) Situation in Taiwan
  Minister Hayashi strongly stated that it is a grave incident concerning the security of Japan and safety of its people that the ballistic missiles launched by China landed in the sea close to Japan, including its EEZ and strongly condemned China’s action. Reiterating the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as an indispensable element in security and prosperity in the international community, he urged China to stop military exercises immediately.
  Other countries expressed concerns over the increasing tensions in Taiwan Strait, and some ministers expressed condemnation toward China’s action responding to Minister Hayashi’s statement.
• (3) East and South China Seas
  Minister Hayashi expressed strong opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force which are continuing and intensifying in the East and South China Seas. He also pointed out that China’s activities that infringe on Japan’s sovereignty in the East China Sea have been continuing and intensifying. Minister Hayashi also re-emphasized that all maritime claims and activities in the oceans and seas should be based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). In addition, Minister Hayashi mentioned the Arbitral Tribunal's award as to the disputes between the Republic of the Philippines and the People’s Republic of China in 2016 and the Code of Conduct (COC) on the South China Sea, stating that COC should be consistent with the UNCLOS and should not prejudice the legitimate rights and interests of all stakeholders using the South China Sea. He also expressed strong opposition to any economic coercion in the region.
  Other countries mentioned the importance of the freedom of navigation and overflight in the East and South China Seas and of the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law, in particular UNCLOS, among other matters.
• (4) Hong Kong and the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region
  Minister Hayashi expressed serious concerns about the situation in Hong Kong and the human rights situation in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
  Other countries also expressed serious concerns about the situation in Hong Kong and the human rights situation in some regions including the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
• (5) North Korea
  Minister Hayashi stated that the full implementation of the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs), including by countering “ship-to-ship transfers”, is critical towards achieving the complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of all of North Korea’s weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles of all ranges, and also asked for continued understanding and cooperation in relation to the abductions issue.
  Other countries spoke on the importance of the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the full implementation of the relevant UNSCRs.
• (6) Situation in Myanmar
  Minister Hayashi stated that Japan seriously deplores the executions of detainees as these actions completely go against the "release of the detainees" which Japan has consistently called for. He expressed that Japan would continue its utmost support for ASEAN’s efforts to implement of the “Five-Point Consensus,” and continue to actively provide humanitarian assistance while call on the Myanmar side to ensure safe and unhindered humanitarian access.
  Other countries also expressed serious concerns over the situation in Myanmar including the executions of detainees and emphasized the importance of the implementation of “the Five-Point Consensus.”

In conclusion, Minister Hayashi stated that Japan will continue to contribute to the EAS cooperation for the peace and prosperity in the region.

［Attachment］
　Chairman's Statement (PDF)