ASEAN-Japan Relations

Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs in view of the recent change of the Prime Minister in Japan (a) whether his Ministry would provide an update on the ASEAN-Japan relationship and its future directions; (b) what is the likelihood of changes in Japan's policy-making strategies; and (c) what would be its impact on ASEAN.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M) (for the Minister for Foreign Affairs): Mr Speaker, ASEAN-Japan relations have been built on solid foundation based on the principles laid down by the late Japanese Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda in 1977. Japan was one of ASEAN's earliest dialogue partners and that dialogue partnership complements ASEAN's relationship with other major countries like the US, Russia, Australia,China and India. The Japanese, indeed, have contributed much to ASEAN's development.

Over the years, the partnership has continued to broaden beyond the socio-economic sphere to cover, for instance, the fields of counter-piracy and trans-national crime as well as monetary and financial cooperation. Japan is and will remain a key ASEAN partner. I do not expect this to change irrespective of which personality or which party is in power.

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It was therefore significant that after the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck the Tohoku region on 11 March 2011, ASEAN Foreign Ministers convened a Special ASEAN-Japan Ministerial Meeting on 9 April 2011 to express the region's solidarity and commitment to support the Japanese people during a time of great difficulty.

This year has not been easy for Japan. They had been preoccupied with the management of 11 March disasters, but they have now moved on into the reconstruction phase.

The Japanese leaders are now exploring ways to deepen their engagement of ASEAN. Indeed, the recent visits by Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yukio Edano, from 22 to 23 September and Minister of Foreign Affairs Koichiro Gemba, from 11 to 12 October to Singapore and our ASEAN neighbours should be seen as a strong reiteration of the current Japanese government's desire to deepen regional cooperation with ASEAN. At the upcoming 14th ASEAN-Japan Summit in November 2011 in Bali, the leaders will adopt a Joint-Declaration for enhancing ASEAN-Japan Strategic Partnership for Peace, Stability and Prosperity. The Joint Declaration identifies key areas of cooperation that will strengthen the linkages between ASEAN and Japan.

One potential area is the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC). As the MPAC moves into the implementation phase, Japan has continued to be a key contributor to the Connectivity initiative, both in terms of expertise and resources. Notably, Japan is the first ASEAN Dialogue Partner to establish an internal task-force to support the MPAC. We are confident that Japan will continue to be a very important partner to ASEAN in years ahead, regardless of the government in power. Japan is a natural partner whom ASEAN can tap on for their expertise and resources.

Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef: Sir, on the area of bilateral relations between Singapore and Japan, do we see any new areas of cooperation, moving forward?

Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: That will continue to be explored.