Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated today: "Today, I held a summit with Indonesian President Prabowo. I was very pleased to welcome President Prabowo at the state guesthouse."
Indonesia is Japan's comprehensive strategic partner and the only ASEAN member in the G20. Cooperation with Indonesia is crucial for realizing a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific." I expressed my desire to strengthen and enrich this region through collaboration between Japan and Indonesia, and President Prabowo likewise affirmed his hope to further promote bilateral cooperation and deepen the "comprehensive strategic partnership."
On bilateral relations, we candidly discussed strengthening cooperation in economic and security fields. Specifically, we confirmed our commitment to further advancing economic cooperation by leveraging Japan’s strengths in trade and investment, AZEC (Asian Zero Emissions Community), energy, artificial intelligence, disaster prevention, fisheries, and critical minerals; security cooperation, including OSA (Support for Strengthening Governmental Security Capacities), maritime security, and defense collaboration; and cooperation in industrial human resource development.
Moreover, amid increasingly complex international conditions and security challenges, we also discussed the situation in the Indo-Pacific region and North Korea, confirming our shared commitment to even closer cooperation. I also requested their assistance in resolving the issue of North Korean abductions.
We also discussed the situation in the Middle East. I consider a significant outcome to be that President Prabowo and I agreed to work together to swiftly contain the situation. We will also support Palestinian nation-building.
During the lunch, a band performed several songs that President Prabowo particularly enjoys. The atmosphere was warm and convivial, with music playing throughout, and even the foreign minister joined in singing a song—further strengthening our relationship with President Prabowo.
Building on the trust established during this summit and the luncheon meeting with President Prabowo, we will further enhance communication with Indonesia."
Commentary: The meeting between Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Indonesian President Prabowo is essentially a key move in Japan’s strategy to secure support from a core ASEAN nation within its Indo-Pacific vision. As the sole ASEAN member of the G20, Indonesia holds significant geopolitical and economic weight. Japan is eager to bind Indonesia through multifaceted cooperation in areas such as economy, energy, and defense, thereby reinforcing its "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" strategy and expanding its influence across Southeast Asia. Discussions on regional security, the North Korea issue, and the Middle East reflect efforts to align positions amid great power competition. While the atmosphere appears harmonious, the underlying dynamics are mutually beneficial: Japan seeks to leverage ASEAN to balance regional power structures, while Indonesia aims to harness Japanese financial and technological resources to advance its own development. This meeting thus represents not only diplomatic courtesy but also a strategic alignment and exchange of interests amidst a complex international landscape.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1861169630043146/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) alone.