Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy Could Help Surmount Geopolitical Challenges
By Nabilah Saleh
KUALA LUMPUR, March 5 (Bernama) -- Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) strategy is a universal notion Malaysia and the region could further promote in facing the current global geopolitical challenges imposed by world superpowers.
The Tokyo-based Canon Institute for Global Studies (CIGS) Research Director Kunihiko Miyake said as democracy is extremely important to the concept of FOIP, democratic nations in a region like Malaysia could help complement the concept first established by Japan in 2017.
“Though Malaysia probably has its own way of doing it (practicing democracy), together with the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) where Malaysia’s in it, I think the concept is basically pretty similar because we are sharing the same values.”
Miyake told Bernama in an exclusive interview after delivering a public lecture titled “Geopolitics of Japan and Her Grand Strategy” at the University of Malaysia (UM)’s Faculty of Languages and Linguistics, recently.
Co-organised by Malaysia-Japan Research Centre and the faculty, the lecture was also attended by the Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia, Katsuhiko Takahashi.
Since 2017, Japan has implemented its FOIP strategy, which seeks to establish core principles for regional order that adhere to the rule of law, freedom of navigation, and overflight as well as no recourse to the use of force.
Southeast Asia, being at the confluence of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, is geographically at the heart of this strategy.
Elaborating further, Miyake opined the universal concept of FOIP needs more “likely-minded” countries including Malaysia to be further promoted and engaged as a substantial step to bring peace and stability in the region.
He added, in fact, the concept, which is now the official policy of Japan and the United States (US) was “rediscovered” by Japan.
“We did not invent the concept, but we rediscovered the connection between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.
“It was first practiced by the Muslim traders. What I’m trying to say here is that; the concept itself is very universal and general, hence why everybody listens, accepted, and works,” said Miyake, who is also an expert on foreign affairs and national security field studies.
The US government was reported to have signed onto the FOIP strategy in November 2017, when the Trump administration started referring to the "Indo-Pacific region" during President Donald Trump's first tour to Asia.
Washington now uses this concept as its regional strategy with close cooperation among the ‘Quad’ countries -- Japan, India, Australia, and the US, he noted.
Touching on various disputes and claims in the South China Sea that involve ASEAN members and actors including Malaysia, Miyake pointed out the regional bloc’s consensus among member states is crucial to reduce the conflict.
“We (Japan) will not interfere in ASEAN issues. But ASEAN is the regional bloc that has the consensus towards the South China Sea dispute and that’s what the asset is all about.
“I knew it is not easy to be given the background of those countries in the region. As we’re fully aware of the internal complexity and the sensitivity of the bloc member states, we are being very careful.
“As we always consider Malaysia as a friend and partner, we are here to help,” he said.
This year marks the 50th commemorative year of ASEAN-Japan relations which have made remarkable progress since 1973.
The ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit, scheduled to be held in Tokyo in December on the occasion of the relationship’s anniversary, is expected to be a big important landmark summit meeting with a good joint statement to go with action plans.
-- BERNAMA
