Defense ministers from 18 countries, including China’s Dong Jun and India’s Rajnath Singh, attend a meeting in Vientiane, Laos, on Nov. 21. (Photo by Junnosuke Kobara) © Reuters
VIENTIANE — Defense officials from the U.S., Japan, ASEAN and elsewhere met here Thursday to discuss security challenges facing Asia as countries in the region aim to keep America involved under the second Trump administration to maintain stability.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun, Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh were among the attendees at the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus in Vientiane. Japan and China did not participate in the 2023 talks.
Nakatani urged “frank discussions for the peace and stability in this region, which faces various challenges.” Dong acknowledged the talks’ importance for maintaining stability in the region.
With tensions rising in the region, Asian countries worry that an accidental clash could spark a wider conflict similar to the war in Ukraine or the turmoil in the Middle East.
China held military drills surrounding Taiwan in October and is exerting military pressure on the Philippines in the South China Sea, where the two countries have competing claims. North Korea, emboldened by Russian support, is increasingly hostile toward South Korea.
Meanwhile, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has chosen China hawks for key posts in his new administration, raising fears of an escalation in Sino-American tensions. Asian leaders are pushing for continued American involvement in the region while engaging with China in an effort to prevent conflict.
ASEAN defense ministers met separately with Austin on Wednesday. Austin laid out plans for U.S. cooperation with the grouping in 2025 and beyond, including on defense industrial capacity and a second ASEAN-U.S. joint exercise in 2025, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.
On Thursday, ASEAN defense ministers met with Dong. The Chinese official described their countries as good neighbors and vowed to strengthen ties.
Austin and Dong did not meet one on one. China rejected a bilateral meeting over a recently approved U.S. arms sale to Taiwan, CNN reported.
But on Wednesday, Dong met with Singh for the first time since China and India agreed at a summit this October to ease tensions along their shared border. Singh stressed the importance of focusing on cooperation over conflict and agreed with Dong to rebuild trust between their countries, according to the Indian Defense Ministry.
Following the larger gathering, Japan, the U.S., South Korea, Australia and the Philippines held their first five-way defense ministers meeting. The officials agreed to advance a vision for a free, open, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific, according to the South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Security cooperation between Asian countries is key to maintaining stability in the region. Japan has launched a framework with South Korea to share information on North Korean missile launches in real time, and has signed a troop access agreement with the Philippines. It is working with Australia on long-range missiles capable of targeting hostile vessels from afar.
The Philippines conducted joint coast guard drills with Vietnam in August. Australia sent combat aircraft to India in September for a multinational exercise. Vietnam also participated in maritime drills hosted by Australia.
source : asia.nikkei