2 Japan's Efforts and Cooperation toward FOIP

To contribute to regional peace and prosperity as an Indo-Pacific nation, Japan will cooperate with like-minded countries and strategically implement measures for the realization of FOIP. Specifically, Japan will take measures, including: (1) promoting policy on maritime order and sharing insights on maritime law with the international community; (2) rule-making to expand a free and fair economic area; (3) enhancing connectivity across the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean; (4) enhancing governance through capacity building; and (5) ensuring maritime security and marine safety.

As for (1), Japan has provided assistance to Southeast Asian countries and Pacific Island countries, including capacity building in maritime law enforcement and seminars on the law of the sea.

As for (2), following the TPP11 Agreement and the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (Japan-EU EPA), the Japan-U.S. Trade Agreement entered into force in January 2020. In addition, Japan leads the creation of economic and trade rules for the post-COVID-19 era, as shown in the signing of the Japan-UK Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (Japan-UK CEPA) in October and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement in November.

As for (3), Japan has implemented projects that help strengthen the connectivity of the Southern Economic Corridor, known as “Mekong's main artery” that connects Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh and Bangkok to the Indian Ocean, and of the East-West Economic Corridor, which connects Da Nang, Viet Nam to Laos and the inland areas of Thailand to the Indian Ocean via Myanmar.

As for (4), in order to support self-sustained and sustainable growth, Japan provides assistance to countries mainly in Asia and Africa, including dispatching macroeconomic advisors for capacity building in fiscal policy and public debt management.

As for (5), in order to establish a free and open international order, Japan actively extends capacity building assistance on maritime law enforcement to the Philippines, Viet Nam and other countries located along Japan's sea lanes, including provision of patrol vessels, coastal monitoring radars and other equipment, as well as human resource development through the dispatch of experts and trainings.