Defense Minister Gen Nakatani called Saturday for closer defense cooperation among like-minded partners in the Indo-Pacific region in order to strengthen the global rules-based order and ¡ª in an implicit criticism of China ¡ª act as a counter to countries seeking to erode the status quo.
The Japanese defense chief used a speech before scores of his counterparts and military brass in Singapore at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia¡¯s leading security conference, to push for closer cooperation and coordination, ¡°while ensuring openness, inclusiveness and transparency, with an aim of restoring a rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific region, strengthening accountability and promoting the international public good.¡±
Nakatani said the need to unite on defense cooperation was clear, pointing to Russia¡¯s invasion of Ukraine ¡ª a violation of the U.N. charter ¡ª and Beijing¡¯s moves in the disputed South China Sea, including its decision to openly ignore a 2016 international arbitral tribunal ruling that dismissed the country¡¯s claim to most of the strategic waterway.
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