Japan seeks cooperation with like-minded countries against attempts to ‘change status quo’

By Ahmet Furkan Mercan

Japan seeks to collaborate with like-minded nations to counter any unilateral attempts to change the regional status quo through force, the country’s defense minister said on Saturday.

Speaking at the 21st Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore, Minoru Kihara warned of the possibility of crises erupting in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

“Unfortunately, it must be said that the risk of multiple, simultaneous crises and accidental clashes across regions has increased significantly in recent years,” Kihara said.

Kihara stressed that they cannot be optimistic about the security environment in the Indo-Pacific.

Rejecting the view that strengthening alliances in the region could escalate tensions, the minister highlighted Japan’s aim to expand its network of defense and security partnerships and reinforce its own defense capabilities.

Noting Tokyo’s efforts to strengthen its relations with its partners in Europe as well, Kihara said: “Maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region is a common interest that concerns the entire international community, and Japan is committed to taking the lead in this effort.”

Shangri-La Dialogue conference, a key platform for security issues in the Asia-Pacific region, is held in Singapore by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies.

* Writing by Seda Sevencan