DEEPENING REGIONAL COOPERATION
Japan is also looking to strengthen cooperation through the Quad, a grouping comprising Japan, the US, Australia and India.
Asked about a possible Quad meeting on the sidelines of the upcoming ASEAN summit, Yonetani declined to comment on specific arrangements.
However, he noted that the grouping’s foreign ministers had met three times this year, in May, July and October.
“This demonstrates our steady cooperation among the nations, and the core objective of Quad is to deliver practical and tangible benefits to the region to sustain peace, stability and prosperity by reinforcing a free and open Indo-Pacific,” he said.
Beyond security, Japan is also seeking to deepen cooperation with ASEAN in disaster management, drawing on its experience in responding to national disasters.
Japan launched its National Disaster Management Agency on Nov 2 to strengthen preparedness for major calamities, including a potential megaquake along its Pacific coast or an eruption of Mount Fuji.
The agency has more than 350 staff who will oversee disaster preparedness, emergency response and reconstruction efforts.
Yonetani said the new agency would strengthen the country’s domestic response capabilities while creating opportunities to share expertise and improve disaster preparedness with ASEAN partners.
