Press Releases
Second Japan-Indonesia Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting (“2+2”)
March 30, 2021
On March 30, Mr. MOTEGI Toshimitsu, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, and Mr. KISHI Nobuo, Minister of Defense of Japan, held the second Japan-Indonesia Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting (“2+2”) with H.E. Ms. Retno L.P. Marsudi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, and H.E. Lt. Gen. (ret.) Prabowo Subianto, Minister of Defense of the Republic of Indonesia. The meeting was held from 5:20 p.m. for approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes. The overview of the meeting is as follows.
- General remarks The four Ministers shared the view that the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) shares many relevant fundamental principles with the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP), and that Japan and Indonesia, as “strategic partners” sharing fundamental values, will advance with specific issues of cooperation for achieving both concepts.
- Bilateral cooperation
- (1) The four ministers welcomed the signing of the Agreement concerning the Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology, and concurred to further deepen the bilateral security cooperation with the Agreement serving as its basis. The Japanese side conveyed its decision to provide an ODA loan of 50 billion yen for disaster risk reduction for which the Indonesian side expressed appreciation. The four ministers also concurred to continue collaborating in the field of maritime cooperation, including outer islands development, maritime surveillance, maritime law enforcement, and in the field of humanitarian and disaster risk reduction assistance.
- (2) The four ministers concurred that Japan and Indonesia will promote cooperation in Sulu-Celebes Seas and surrounding areas. In addition, the four ministers affirmed that the two countries will strengthen cooperation in the field of economic security, including supply chain and digital, and on counterterrorism.
- Regional affairs and cooperation in the international arena
- (1) The Japanese side expressed serious concerns about China’s recent developments in the region such as the Coast Guard Law. Both sides exchanged their views on the situations in the East China Sea and South China Sea. Furthermore, both sides also shared serious concerns about the continued and strengthened unilateral attempts to change the status quo. The four ministers shared the view on the importance of a free and open maritime order based on the rule of law and on respecting international law including the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Law of the Sea.
- (2) The Japanese side expressed its strong concern about North Korea’s increasing nuclear and missile capabilities in violation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions, and strongly condemned the recent ballistic missile launches by North Korea. Furthermore, the four ministers confirmed the importance of the full implementation of the UN Security Council resolutions for achieving a complete, verifiable, and irreversible dismantlement of all weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles of all ranges of North Korea. The Japanese side asked for Indonesia’s understanding and cooperation toward the early resolution of the abductions issue, to which the Indonesian side offered its support.
- (3) The Japanese side expressed its intention to carry out concrete cooperation based on the Joint Statement of the ASEAN-Japan Summit on Cooperation on AOIP. In the lead-up to the 50th anniversary of Japan-ASEAN friendship and cooperation in 2023, Japan stated that it intends to work closely with Indonesia, which will hold the ASEAN chairmanship in the same year. In addition, Japan noted that it supports ASEAN centrality and unity alongside other like-minded countries and expressed its intent to continue cooperating with ASEAN. In response, the Indonesian side stated it will strive to further deepen Japan-ASEAN relations.
- (4) The four ministers concurred with the grave concern over the current situation in Myanmar and shared the view on continuing to coordinate closely on this matter. Furthermore, they exchanged views regarding the situation in the Middle East and other regions.