Section 2 Asia and Oceania

1 Overview

(General Overview)

The Asia-Oceania region includes not only the second and third largest economies in the world, China and Japan, but also numerous emerging countries with remarkable growth. It is a dynamic region where diverse cultures and races intermingle and influence each other. This region, with an abundance of human resources, drives the world economy and has been increasing its presence. Of the world population of 7.9 billion, approximately 3.7 billion live in East Asia Summit (EAS) participating countries¹ excluding the U.S. and Russia. This represents about 47% of the world's population.² Their combined nominal gross domestic product (GDP) is 32.7 trillion US dollars (2021), and accounts for more than 30% of the world total.³

Furthermore, the total imports and exports of EAS participating countries excluding the U.S. and Russia are 13.4408 trillion US dollars (2021), which is comparable to the EU's imports and exports of 13.0421 trillion US dollars.⁴ The region enjoys close economic relations and sees growing interdependence. Further economic growth is expected, and the strong growth within the region will also bring affluence and vitality to Japan.

Meanwhile, the security environment in the Asia-Oceania region is becoming increasingly severe as seen in the following developments: the nuclear and missile development by North Korea; the strengthening and modernization of military forces in a manner that lacks transparency and attempts to change the status quo in the region by force that goes against the rule of law and openness; and tension within the region growing over the maritime issues. Other factors hindering the stable growth of the region include economic and financial systems still under development, environmental pollution, unstable demand and supply of food and resources, frequent natural disasters, terrorism, and aging populations.

Against this backdrop, Japan has been actively engaging in diplomacy including at the leaders' and foreign ministers' levels. In 2022, even amidst the impacts of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Japan actively engaged in face-to-face diplomacy and worked to maintain and develop good relations with neighboring countries. Prime Minister Kishida visited India and Cambodia in March as his first bilateral visit after assuming the office of Prime Minister, and from April to June he visited several countries in Southeast Asia and held bilateral leaders' meetings. Furthermore, when the Japan-Australia-India-U.S. (Quad) Leaders' Meeting was held in Tokyo in May, Prime Minister Kishida met with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who had just assumed the office of Prime Minister, and met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In June at the NATO Summit Meeting in Spain, a Japan-U.S.-Republic of Korea (ROK) Summit Meeting was held for the first time in about four years and nine months.

Prime Minister Kishida's visit to Indonesia (April 29, Jakarta, Indonesia; Photo: Cabinet Public Affairs Office)

Japan-U.S.-ROK Summit Meeting (June 29, Madrid, Spain; Photo: Cabinet Public Affairs Office)

In September, Prime Minister Kishida held Summit Meetings with and met with the leaders of many Asian and Oceanian countries who visited Japan to attend the state funeral for the late Prime Minister ABE Shinzo. In October, Prime Minister Kishida visited Australia, and in November he visited Cambodia, Indonesia, and Thailand to attend the ASEAN-related Summit Meetings, the G20 Bali Summit and the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting. In Cambodia, Prime Minister Kishida attended the ASEAN-Japan Summit, the ASEAN Plus Three (Japan-China-ROK) Summit, and the EAS, and confirmed the further strengthening of Japan-ASEAN relations, which would mark the 50th Year of Friendship and Cooperation in 2023. Furthermore, Prime Minister Kishida deepened discussions on urgent issues facing the region and the international community, including Russia's aggression against Ukraine, the situations in the East China Sea and South China Sea, and the situation in North Korea, and confirmed Japan's will to strengthen cooperation with the relevant countries. Taking advantage of this series of meetings, Prime Minister Kishida also held summit meetings with the leaders of several ASEAN countries, with President of the ROK Yoon Suk Yeol, and with President of China Xi Jinping.

In February, Foreign Minister Hayashi visited Australia and the U.S., attended the Japan-Australia-India-U.S. (Quad) Foreign Ministers' Meeting and the Japan-U.S.-ROK Foreign Ministers' Meeting, and also met with the Foreign Ministers of Australia, India, and the ROK. In April, Foreign Minister Hayashi held the first Japan-Philippines Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting (“2+2”) in Tokyo, and from the end of April to the beginning of May, he visited Mongolia, Fiji, Palau, and the ROK and held Foreign Ministers' Meetings. In July, Foreign Minister Hayashi took advantage of the opportunity presented by the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Indonesia and held bilateral meetings with the foreign ministers of the participating countries and also held a Japan-U.S.-ROK Foreign Ministers' Meeting. In August, Foreign Minister Hayashi attended ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers' Meetings held in Cambodia and had meaningful discussions on a wide range of topics, from specific cooperation in the region, with ASEAN at its core, to the regional situation. He also had bilateral meetings with foreign ministers of ASEAN countries respectively, and participated in the Japan-U.S.-Australia Trilateral Strategic Dialogue. In November, Foreign Minister Hayashi attended the APEC Ministerial Meeting held in Thailand and held Foreign Ministers' Meetings with Vietnam, Thailand, and Papua New Guinea.

Japan is strengthening various cooperation in the Asia-Oceania region and will continue to make meaningful use of various cooperative frameworks.

• 1 ASEAN (member states: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam), Australia, China, India, Japan, the ROK, and New Zealand
• 2 United Nations Population Fund
• 3 World Bank
• 4 International Monetary Fund (IMF)

(Japan-U.S. Alliance and Indo-Pacific region)

The Japan-U.S. Security Alliance, with the Japan-U.S. security arrangements as its core, is the foundation of peace, security, and prosperity, not only for Japan but also for the Indo-Pacific region. In the midst of an increasingly severe regional security environment, the Japan-U.S. Alliance is more important than ever. Since the inauguration of President Biden in January 2021, Japan and the U.S. have held 16 Summit Meetings and 25 Foreign Ministers' Meetings, including telephone calls (as of January 2023). The two countries have been working closely at multiple levels, including at the summit level and at the foreign minister level, to promote cooperation toward realizing a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)” and to address various issues in the Indo-Pacific Region, including China, North Korea, and Russia.

In January, Prime Minister Kishida held a Japan-U.S. Summit Video Teleconference Meeting with President Biden, and the two leaders shared their intention to coordinate closely under the strong Japan-U.S. Alliance and to deepen cooperation with like-minded countries toward realizing FOIP. Furthermore, based on the importance of Japan-U.S. economic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, the two leaders concurred on the launch of the ministerial Japan-U.S. Economic Policy Consultative Committee (the Economic “2+2”), and Prime Minister Kishida welcomed the U.S.' commitment to the region including the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF).

In May, President Biden visited Japan for the first time since assuming the presidency, and held a Japan-U.S. Summit Meeting with Prime Minister Kishida. With Russia's aggression against Ukraine shaking the very foundations of the rules-based international order, under the recognition that the Indo-Pacific is a region of vital importance to global peace, security and prosperity, the two leaders concurred that Japan and the U.S. will lead the international community and continue to work closely with like-minded countries toward the realization of FOIP. President Biden reiterated the U.S. commitment to the defense of Japan, and the two leaders concurred to communicate more closely between Japan and the U.S. to ensure that extended deterrence remains unwavering. Furthermore, President Biden announced the launch of the IPEF, and the two leaders released a joint statement outlining the future direction for strengthening the Japan-U.S. Alliance, including affirming their commitment to promoting FOIP. Prime Minister Kishida also utilized this opportunity to host the Japan-Australia-India-U.S. (Quad) Leaders' Meeting. At the Meeting, the leaders of the four countries welcomed that the vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific is resonating in various regions around the world, and that proactive efforts are underway in various regions, and shared the view in further deepening engagement and cooperation with each country and region.

Foreign Minister Hayashi visited the U.S. in July and held a Japan-U.S. Foreign Ministers' Meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, where the two Ministers reconfirmed their commitment to expand and deepen security and defense cooperation between Japan and the U.S. and to further strengthen the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-U.S. Alliance. Furthermore, Foreign Minister Hayashi, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry HAGIUDA Koichi, Secretary of State Blinken, and Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo held the Economic “2+2”, which Prime Minister Kishida and President Biden had agreed to launch during the Japan-U.S. Summit Video Teleconference Meeting in January. The Ministers reaffirmed their determination to lead international cooperation in areas such as economic policy of both countries, the establishment of a regional economic order including in the Indo-Pacific region, and economic security.

A bipartisan delegation, led by Vice President Kamala Harris, visited Japan for the state funeral for the late Prime Minister ABE Shinzo in September, reflecting the breadth and depth of the Japan-U.S. Alliance. After a courtesy call to Prime Minister Kishida by Vice President Harris, Prime Minister Kishida had a dinner with the U.S. delegation and remembered former Prime Minister Abe. The two sides also concurred to continue close cooperation between Japan and the U.S. toward further strengthening the Japan-U.S. Alliance and realizing FOIP.

In November Prime Minister Kishida visited Phnom Penh, Cambodia to attend ASEAN-related Summit Meetings, held a Japan-U.S. Summit Meeting with President Biden, welcomed the progress made on the IPEF and the Economic “2+2,” and the two leaders concurred on promoting efforts to realize FOIP.

In January 2023, the Japan-U.S. Security Consultative Committee (Japan-U.S. “2+2”) was held in Washington D.C. in person for the first time in two years, and both Japan and the U.S. firmly reiterated their commitment to champion a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

In January 2023, Prime Minister Kishida, who was visiting Washington, D.C., held a Japan-U.S. Summit Meeting with President Biden. Prime Minister Kishida stated that he will strengthen efforts to realize FOIP, and in response President Biden reiterated the unwavering U.S. commitment to the region. Based on this, the two leaders concurred that Japan and the U.S. will continue to promote endeavors to realize FOIP. The Joint Statement of the United States and Japan, which was issued as a result of the Japan-U.S. Summit Meeting, states that their cooperation today is unprecedented, rooted in a shared vision of FOIP and a peaceful and prosperous world, and guided by their shared values and principles, including the rule of law.

(Japan's Efforts on the Issue of Comfort Women)

(See 3(2)B(C) regarding the comfort women issue between Japan and the ROK.)

The Government of Japan has sincerely dealt with the issues of reparations, property and claims pertaining to the World War II, including the comfort women issue, under the San Francisco Peace Treaty, which the Government of Japan concluded with 45 countries, including the U.S., the UK and France, and through other bilateral treaties, agreements and instruments. These issues including those of claims of individuals have already been legally settled with the parties to these treaties, agreements and instruments.

On this basis, the Government of Japan has actively taken measures to recover the honor of former comfort women and to provide remedies for them. In 1995, the Asian Women's Fund (AWF) was established with the cooperation of the people and the Government of Japan for the purpose of carrying out atonement and remedy projects for former comfort women. The Government of Japan provided a total of 4.8 billion Japanese yen. Furthermore, approximately 600 million Japanese yen was donated to the AWF by the people of Japan. The Government of Japan extended maximum cooperation to the AWF, which implemented medical and welfare support projects and provided “atonement money,” to offer realistic relief to former comfort women. As part of the AWF's projects, “atonement money” (2 million Japanese yen per person), which was funded by donations from Japanese people, was provided to 285 former comfort women (211 in the Philippines, 61 in the ROK, 13 in Taiwan). Moreover, the AWF provided funds in those countries/areas for medical and welfare support funded with contributions by the Government of Japan (3 million Japanese yen per person in the ROK and Taiwan, 1.2 million Japanese yen per person in the Philippines) (for a total of 5 million Japanese yen per person in the ROK and Taiwan, 3.2 million Japanese yen per person in the Philippines). Furthermore, using funds contributed by the Government of Japan, the AWF extended support for projects to promote social welfare services for elderly people in Indonesia as well as projects to help improve the living conditions of former comfort women in the Netherlands.

When the “atonement money” as well as the medical and welfare support were provided to individual former comfort women, then-Prime Ministers (namely, Prime Ministers HASHIMOTO Ryutaro, OBUCHI Keizo, MORI Yoshiro and KOIZUMI Junichiro) sent signed letters expressing their apology and remorse directly to each former comfort woman.

As stated in the Statement by the Prime Minister issued in 2015, Japan will engrave in its heart the past, when the dignity and honor of many women were severely injured during wars in the 20th century. Japan will lead the world in making the 21st century an era in which women's human rights are not infringed upon.

Despite such sincere efforts by the Government of Japan, there are claims that can hardly be regarded to be based on historical facts, such as allegations of “forceful taking away” of comfort women and “sex slaves” as well as the figures such as “200,000 persons” or “several hundred thousands” for the total number of comfort women.

The Government of Japan's position regarding these claims is as follows:

“Forceful taking away”

“Forceful taking away” of comfort women by the Japanese military and government authorities could not be confirmed in any of the documents that the Government of Japan was able to identify.

“Sex slaves”

The expression of “sex slaves” contradicts the facts and should not be used. This point was confirmed with the ROK on the occasion of the Japan-ROK Agreement in December 2015 and the expression “sex slaves” is not used in the agreement.

Figures such as “200,000 persons” for the total number of comfort women

The figure “200,000 persons” lacks concrete evidence. As stated in the report of the Government study's result of August 4, 1993, it is virtually impossible to determine the total number of comfort women as no documents have been found which either indicate the total number or give sufficient ground to establish an estimate.

The Government of Japan has been making efforts to provide clear explanations regarding its sincere efforts and official position in international fora. Specifically, at the United Nations (UN), the Government of Japan has explained its position on a number of occasions such as during the consideration of the Seventh and Eighth Periodic Reports by the Government of Japan on the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in February 2016, the Ninth Periodic Report on the Implementation of the CEDAW in September 2021, and the examination of the Seventh Report of Japan under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in October 2022.

Installations of comfort woman statues⁵ have been observed not only in the ROK but also in some other countries and regions. Such moves are extremely regrettable and incompatible with the position of the Government of Japan. The Government of Japan will continue reaching out to various people involved in this issue to explain its position.

The below Ministry of Foreign Affairs website details Japan's Efforts on the Issue of Comfort Women.

https://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/postwar/page22e_000883.html

• 5 For the sake of practical convenience, they are referred to as “comfort woman statues.” However, the use of this term is not a reflection of the recognition that these statues correctly embody the reality of those women at that time.