TOKYO – Japan and Singapore will start negotiations to reach a deal on the transfer of defense equipment and technology, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Saturday, setting the stage for more security cooperation, Kyodo News reported.
During a summit meeting, Kishida and Singapore counterpart Lee Hsien Loong agreed on the launch and jointly defend the rules-based order after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sent ripples to the Indo-Pacific region.
Japan has been deepening ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations as it promotes a “free and open” Indo-Pacific, with Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam among the 12 nations that Japan has signed similar defense equipment transfer agreements with.
“Japan is resolved to reinforce cooperation with like-minded nations including Singapore in bringing new developments toward a free and open Indo-Pacific,” Kishida told a joint press briefing with Lee according to MENA. “We agreed to move toward more concrete security cooperation.”
Kishida said he expressed “strong opposition” to any attempts to change the status quo by force in the East and South China seas and economic coercion — a phrase apparently aimed at China.
