Chapter 2
Japan's Foreign Policy by Region
3 Collaboration and Cooperation with Other Countries
(1) U.S. (See Section 3, 1)
On January 28, 2021, Prime Minister Suga and President Joe Biden held their first summit telephone call. The two leaders affirmed the importance of strengthening the U.S. presence in the Indo-Pacific region, and confirmed that they would work closely together to realize FOIP. On January 27, Foreign Minister Motegi and Secretary of State Antony Blinken held their first foreign ministers' telephone call and exchanged views on the importance of FOIP. In March, just two months after the inauguration of the Biden administration, Foreign Minister Motegi and Secretary of State Blinken held their first in-person foreign ministers' meeting. The two ministers reaffirmed that Japan and the U.S. would continue to take the lead in strengthening cooperation to realize FOIP while working together with Australia, India, ASEAN and other partners.
(2) ASEAN (See Section 2, 7)
During Prime Minister Suga's visit to Viet Nam and Indonesia in October, Prime Minister Suga expressed Japan's intention to collaborate with ASEAN in creating a peaceful and prosperous future for the Indo-Pacific region, and shared the view on promoting concrete cooperation to this end. In Viet Nam, Prime Minister Suga delivered a speech entitled “Building Together the Future of Indo-Pacific,” in which he expressed strong support for the AOIP announced by ASEAN in 2019 and advocated that Japan and ASEAN work hand in hand to achieve a more prosperous FOIP. At the ASEAN-related Summit Meetings in November, attended by Prime Minister Suga and the ASEAN leaders, Japan and ASEAN released the Joint Statement of the 23rd ASEAN-Japan Summit on Cooperation on ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, confirming that the AOIP and FOIP promoted by Japan share fundamental principles. Japan and ASEAN will deepen cooperation that contributes to the realization of FOIP by steadily promoting the Japan-ASEAN Connectivity Initiative, which was unveiled at the Japan-ASEAN Summit Meeting, as well as through other concrete cooperation programs in line with the four priority areas of the AOIP, namely maritime cooperation, connectivity, SDGs, and economic and other possible areas of cooperation.
(3) Australia (See Section 2, 6)
In November, Prime Minister Morrison visited Japan as the first counterpart with which Prime Minister Suga held an in-person summit meeting in Japan since taking office. The two leaders affirmed that Japan and Australia, as “Special Strategic Partners” that share basic values, such as freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law, as well as strategic interests, would work together toward realizing FOIP. Foreign Minister Motegi and Foreign Minister Marise Payne also held foreign ministers' meetings in-person in October and by telephone in February 2021, and they shared the view that they would work closely together as like-minded countries for the realization of FOIP. In February 2021, Prime Minister Suga and Prime Minister Morrison held a telephone call and shared the view to promote bilateral cooperation as well as collaboration with the U.S. and ASEAN toward the realization of FOIP.
(4) India (See Section 2, 5)
During the first telephone call between Prime Minister Suga and Prime Minister Modi in September, Prime Minister Suga expressed Japan's intention to work with India to play their role for achieving FOIP. At the Japan-India Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue in October, Foreign Minister Motegi and External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar exchanged a wide range of views regarding cooperation for realizing FOIP and affirmed their intention to continue reinforcing the bilateral cooperation, including the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative promoted by India.
(5) Japan-Australia-India-U.S. (See the Special Feature on page 27)
The four countries of Japan, Australia, India and the U.S. have the shared goal of strengthening a rules-based free and open international order. In order to make tangible progress with FOIP, the four countries share the view on further implementing practical cooperation in various areas, including quality infrastructure and maritime security, and on the importance of expanding cooperation to more countries to realize this vision. The four countries also fully support the AOIP and welcome the proactive efforts by European and other countries toward FOIP. Based on this recognition, the 2nd Japan-Australia-India-U.S. Foreign Ministers' Meeting was held in Japan in October 2020. The ministers concurred on further developing practical cooperation in various areas and affirmed the importance of broadening cooperation with more countries to make tangible progress with FOIP. In February 2021, following the inauguration of the Biden administration in the U.S., a Japan-Australia-India-U.S. foreign ministers' telephone call was held, during which the four countries shared the view on continuing to further deepen engagement and cooperation with ASEAN, the Pacific Island countries, Europe and other countries to realize FOIP. In March 2021, the first Japan-Australia-India-U.S. leaders' video conference was held at the call of the U.S., during which the leaders shared the view to cooperate with a range of partners to realize FOIP at the summit level as well.
(6) Europe
A The EU (See Section 5, 2-(1))
Since around autumn 2020, interest in the Indo-Pacific has increased in Europe, and discussions on the Indo-Pacific started in the EU. In January 2021, Foreign Minister Motegi became the first Japanese foreign minister to attend an EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in a virtual format, where he explained about FOIP to the EU and Foreign Ministers of EU member states. In response, Foreign Ministers of many EU member states expressed understanding and support for the importance of a rules-based free and open international order in the Indo-Pacific. Japan and the EU shared the view to further promote cooperation in areas such as connectivity and maritime security.
B The UK (See Section 5, 2-(2))
In August, Foreign Minister Motegi visited the UK as his first overseas visit since the global outbreak of COVID-19. During his meeting with Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, the two ministers discussed ways to further strengthen their relations in wide-ranging areas, including cooperation to realize FOIP. In September, Prime Minister Suga held a telephone call with Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The two leaders confirmed to collaborate to further deepen their bilateral relations, including strengthening cooperation in the field of security for the realization of FOIP. Furthermore, the two countries affirmed that they would further enhance such cooperation at the Japan-UK Foreign and Defence Ministers' Meeting (“2+2”) held in February 2021 for the first time in three years and the Japan-UK summit telephone call held in the same month.
C France (See Section 5, 2-(3))
In October, Foreign Minister Motegi visited France and held a meeting with Europe and Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian. The two ministers confirmed to promote bilateral cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. During Prime Minister Suga's summit telephone call with President Emmanuel Macron in the same month, the two leaders shared the view that both Japan and France, as Indo-Pacific nations, would cooperate for the realization of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
D Germany (See Section 5, 2-(4))
In September, the German cabinet adopted the “Policy Guidelines for the Indo-Pacific Region,” which emphasizes the importance of the principles of freedom of navigation, rule of law and connectivity in the Indo-Pacific. During a video teleconference meeting with Foreign Minister Heiko Maas in October, Foreign Minister Motegi praised Germany's Policy Guidelines, and the two ministers shared the view on strengthening cooperation toward realizing FOIP.
E The Netherlands (See Section 5, Other European Regions on page 136)
In November, the Netherlands released the “Indo-Pacific: Guidelines for Strengthening Dutch and EU Cooperation with Partners in Asia,” which underscores the Netherlands' strengthened commitment to the South China Sea and promotion of maritime security in the Indo-Pacific. In December, Prime Minister Suga held a telephone call with Prime Minister Mark Rutte and welcomed the release of the Netherlands' own Indo-Pacific guidelines. In addition, the two leaders shared the view to work together to realize FOIP.