Respect for sovereignty

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is back from this week’s 50th ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation Commemorative Summit in Tokyo.

The Summit reviewed the achievements of ASEAN-Japan relations over the past five decades and discussed the future direction of ASEAN-Japan ties.

The leaders later adopted a Joint Vision Statement and its Implementation Plan, affirming the commitments of both sides to strengthen the newly-launched ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which they see is meaningful, substantive, and mutually beneficial.

At the Summit, President Marcos, who described the regional bloc’s ties with Japan as “robust and enduring,” advocated a rules-based Indo-Pacific region that is “free and open,” guided by the shared fundamental principles as enshrined in the United Nations charter and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.

He stressed the need for the regional bloc to have an active role in maintaining peace, security, and stability in the region.

Japan and ASEAN agreed to deepen relations regarding security and economic issues at their summit, at a time time when China’s growing clout alters the region’s geopolitical environment.

In their joint statement, the leaders pledged to step up cooperation on maritime security, strengthen supply chains, promote sustainable energy practices and expand people-to-people exchanges in various sectors.

It is also heartening the leaders announced the launch of a new initiative for the next-generation auto industry aimed at mapping out strategies to enable ASEAN members to remain a major hub of auto production and exports.

Among other new efforts to further boost the economy in the fast-growing region is supporting digital startups as well as accelerating public and private investment to achieve decarbonization.

“Based on strong mutual trust, Japan and ASEAN will tackle new challenges,” Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told a news conference after the summit ended, adding he is glad they will take a “new step toward the next 50 years.”

The meeting came as Tokyo has been bolstering its ties with developing and emerging countries collectively known as the Global South, which includes ASEAN members, to capitalize on their growth while countering Beijing’s increasing influence.

Japan regards its relations with ASEAN as strategically important, with the bloc facing the South China Sea, home to one of the world’s busiest maritime sea lanes.

Some of the 10 ASEAN members also have overlapping territorial claims with China in the area.

Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea, a vital trade corridor, and its increased deployment of vessels and other methods to assert its claims in disputed areas have riled nations across the region as well as Washington.

Japan and ASEAN agreed to “strengthen dialogue and cooperation for the maintenance of maritime security and safety, maritime order based on the rule of law, including freedom and safety of navigation and overflight and unimpeded commerce,” the joint statement said.

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