Section 2 Asia and Oceania

1 Overview

(General Overview)

The Asia-Oceania is a dynamic region where countries and regions at various stages of development exist, and 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 8.1 billion, approximately 3.8 billion live in East Asia Summit (EAS) participating countries⁽¹⁾ excluding the United States (U.S.) and Russia. This represents about 46% of the world's population.⁽²⁾ Their combined nominal gross domestic product (GDP) is 33.0 trillion U.S. dollars (2023), and accounts for more than 30% of the world total.⁽³⁾ Strong growth of the region with high potential, and close economic relations with the region, will also bring affluence and vitality to Japan.

On the other hand, the security environment in this 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 among the relevant countries and regions growing over the maritime issues. Other factors hindering the stable growth of the region include economic and financial systems still under development, environmental pollution, climate change, unstable demand and supply of food and resources, frequent natural disasters, terrorism, and aging populations coupled with declining birthrates.

Within this context, Japan has been actively engaging in diplomacy in this region, including at the leader and foreign ministerial levels, and is maintaining and developing good relations with neighboring countries. In April, Prime Minister Kishida attended the first Japan-U.S.-Philippines Summit in Washington, D.C. during his official visit to the U.S. as a State Guest. The leaders of the three countries emphasized their unwavering commitment to freedom of navigation and overflight, and concurred on strengthening cooperation, including responding to economic coercion and enhancing supply chain resilience.

In May, Prime Minister Kishida attended the Japan-China-Republic of Korea (ROK) Trilateral Summit, held in the ROK for the first time in about four and a half years, where the three leaders welcomed the revitalization of the trilateral process and concurred on promoting future-oriented practical cooperation. During his attendance at the NATO Summit held in Washington, D.C., in July, he held the Japan-Australia-New Zealand-ROK (IP4) Leaders' Meeting, held informal talks among the IP4 leaders and President Biden, and held the IP4+Ukraine Leader's Meeting. Also in July, Prime Minister Kishida hosted the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10) in Tokyo, co-chaired by Prime Minister Mark Brown of the Cook Islands. Japan and the Pacific Island countries and regions reaffirmed their relationships to “stride forward together” toward the future while tackling common challenges, and adopted the Leaders' Declaration and Joint Action Plan as outcomes of the discussions.

In September, Prime Minister Kishida visited the ROK and held the Japan-ROK Summit Meeting, with President Yoon Suk Yeol, which marked the 12th meeting between them. Later in the same month, he attended the Japan-Australia-India-U.S. (Quad) Leaders' Meeting in the U.S., where the four countries shared the intention to continue demonstrating their strong commitment to the common vision of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)” to the international community. Moreover, in Delaware, Prime Minister Kishida held Summit Meetings with Australia and India, and also held Summit Meetings with Palau and Mongolia in New York.

In October, Prime Minister Ishiba visited Laos to attend the ASEAN-related Summit Meetings as his first overseas visit after assuming office as Prime Minister. Prime Minister Ishiba conveyed his strong determination to further strengthen the half-century-long relationship of trust between Japan and ASEAN. He also held summit meetings and informal talks with the leaders of the ROK, China, India, the Philippines, Laos, Viet Nam, Australia, and Thailand.

In November, in order to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Meeting, Prime Minister Ishiba visited Peru, and held summit meetings and informal talks with the leaders of Malaysia, the U.S., China, Viet Nam, Indonesia, the ROK, and Peru. He also participated in the Japan-U.S.-ROK Summit Meeting, and the leaders concurred to establish the Trilateral Coordinating Secretariat and to continue working closely together, including through this Secretariat, in various fields such as policies toward North Korea.

In February, as well as visiting Samoa, Foreign Minister Kamikawa visited Fiji and attended the 5th Ministerial Interim Meeting of the Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM), where she held bilateral meetings with ten countries. Later in the same month, during her visit in Brazil to participate in the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting, she held a Japan-ROK Foreign Ministers' Meeting. She also attended the Japan-U.S.-ROK Foreign Ministers' Meeting, and the foreign ministers concurred to accelerate the momentum of the Japan-U.S.-ROK cooperation and reaffirmed that they would continue to work closely towards the complete denuclearization of North Korea.

In May, while attending the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Ministerial Council Meeting (MCM), Foreign Minister Kamikawa held a Japan-Laos Foreign Ministers' Meeting with Laos Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay. She visited Sri Lanka and Nepal also in May, and visited Cambodia and the Philippines in July, paying courtesy calls on the leaders and holding foreign ministers' meetings in each country. In the Philippines, a Japan-Philippines Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting (“2+2”) was held, and the Japan-Philippines Reciprocal Access Agreement was signed. In July, she attended the ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Laos, where she explained that broad cooperation is steadily progressing in line with the three pillars of the Joint Vision Statement. On this opportunity, she also held the Mekong-Japan Foreign Ministers' Meeting and held foreign ministers' meetings with Laos, China, the ROK, Indonesia, Singapore, and Timor-Leste. Later in July, she held the Japan-Australia-India-U.S. (Quad) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Tokyo, where the four ministers emphasized the importance of adherence to international law for the rules-based maritime order and reaffirmed their strong opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion. In August she visited India, participated in the Japan-India 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministerial Meeting, paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister, and participated in a Japan-India Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue.

In September, Foreign Minister Kamikawa visited Australia to attend the Japan-Australia 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministerial Consultations (“2+2”), and held a Japan-Australia Foreign Ministers' Working Dinner. In the same month, in order to attend the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, she visited New York, U.S., and on that occasion, she held a Japan-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting as well as a Japan-U.S.-ROK Foreign Ministers' Meeting, where the three ministers concurred on further strengthening trilateral cooperation as the free and open international order based on the rule of law is facing serious challenges.

In November, Foreign Minister Iwaya, during his visit in Peru to attend the APEC Ministerial Meeting, he held a Japan-U.S. Foreign Ministers' Meeting, a Japan-Peru Foreign Ministers' Meeting, and a Japan-ROK Foreign Ministers' Meeting, in addition to informal talks with the foreign ministers of Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Viet Nam, New Zealand, and Canada. In December, he visited China, and held a Japan-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting and the Second Japan-China High-Level People-to-People and Cultural Exchange Dialogue.

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

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

The Japan-U.S. Alliance is the cornerstone of Japan's diplomacy and security, and the foundation for peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and the international community. In the midst of an increasingly severe regional security environment, the importance of the Japan-U.S. Alliance has never been greater. Under the unprecedentedly strong cooperative relationship between Japan and the U.S., since the inauguration of President Biden in January 2021, Japan and the U.S. have held 23 Summit Meetings and 36 Foreign Ministers' Meetings, including telephone calls (as of December 2024). The two countries have been striving to maintain peace and stability in the region and the international community by constantly communicating and collaborating at all levels, including at the summit level and at the foreign minister level. Both Japan and the U.S. are promoting cooperation toward realizing a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP),” and are also deepening their cooperation to address regional issues, including the situations in China, North Korea, Russia and Ukraine, and the Middle East.

In April, Prime Minister Kishida, as the first Japanese prime minister in nine years to make an official visit to the U.S. with State Dinner, held a Japan-U.S. Summit Meeting with President Biden. Prime Minister Kishida remarked that the two countries are bonded by deep trust and multilayered friendship, and that based on these unprecedentedly strong bonds of friendship and trust, Japan and the U.S. have become global partners beyond bilateral or regional spheres, to uphold and bolster the free and open international order based on the rule of law.

The two leaders exchanged views on regional issues and reaffirmed that unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion are totally unacceptable anywhere in the world, and that they will resolutely respond to them in coordination with allies and like-minded countries. In the joint statement released as the outcome of their meeting, it was confirmed that Japan and the U.S. pledge to continue their tireless work, together and with other partners, to realize a Free and Open Indo-Pacific and world. In his address to the joint session of the U.S. Congress, Prime Minister Kishida also stated his intention to work with like-minded countries to achieve a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific.”

In July, Secretary of State Blinken and Secretary of Defense Austin visited Japan for the Japan-U.S. Security Consultative Committee (Japan-U.S. “2+2”). The Japanese side conveyed that the foundations of a free and open international order based on the rule of law continue to be shaken, that this is a critical juncture where the decisions both countries make today will determine the future, and that both countries must continuously strengthen the Alliance and increase its deterrence in order to protect and defend the existing international order. The U.S. side celebrated the extraordinary progress in enhancing the alliance's roles, missions, and capabilities, which support the ability to uphold a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Under the Ishiba administration, which took office in October, strengthening the Japan-U.S. Alliance remains the top priority of its diplomatic and security policy. In November, Prime Minister Ishiba met with President Biden in Peru for a Japan-U.S. Summit Meeting, where they concurred on continuing cooperation to strengthen the Japan-U.S. Alliance, and to further develop networks of like-minded countries, including Japan-U.S.-ROK, as well as continuing to work closely together on issues regarding North Korea, including the nuclear and missile issues as well as the abductions issue. Foreign Minister Iwaya also held a Japan-U.S. Foreign Ministers' Meeting with Secretary Blinken, where they exchanged views on regional situations such as issues related to China, policies toward North Korea including on the nuclear and missile issues and the abductions issue, and the situation in Ukraine. The two Ministers also concurred on implementing cooperation to further strengthen Japan-U.S. Alliance deterrence and response capabilities, and to further develop networks of like-minded countries.

In December, Secretary of Defense Austin visited Japan and paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Ishiba. They exchanged views on Japan-U.S. security and defense cooperation for strengthening the deterrence and response capabilities of the Alliance, bearing in mind the increasingly severe regional security environment, and also concurred on continuing efforts for upgrading the command and control of the Alliance, promoting defense equipment and technology cooperation, and strengthening the network of like-minded countries.

(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”

The “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 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⁽⁴⁾ by the Government of Japan based 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 submitted in September 2021, the examination of the 2024 Ninth Periodic Report submitted in October 2024, and the examination of the Seventh Report of Japan under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in October 2022.

There have been installations of comfort woman statues⁽⁵⁾ 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(MOFA) website details Japan's Efforts on the Issue of Comfort Women.

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

• (4) For details, refer to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website: https://www.mofa.go.jp/a_o/rp/page24e_000163.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.