Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Subianto recently met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo, where he underscored his commitment to deepening the bond between Indonesia and Japan. Subianto, who is set to take office in October, highlighted the historical friendship shared by the two nations and expressed his intention to strengthen their cooperative relationship across various sectors. This meeting comes after Subianto's visit to China, where he emphasized the importance of maintaining friendly relations with Beijing amidst tensions in the South China Sea.
Japan has been actively seeking to strengthen its ties with Southeast Asian countries, particularly in areas of maritime security and defense, as a response to China's growing military presence in the region. Subianto's decision to visit China as his first official overseas trip after winning the election underlines Indonesia's effort to maintain stability in its relationship with China, which is its largest trading partner. Despite the ongoing territorial disputes in the South China Sea, Indonesia has managed to navigate a neutral position and prioritize diplomacy in its foreign relations.
During the meeting in Tokyo, Prime Minister Kishida welcomed Subianto's visit and emphasized the mutual values and principles that bind Japan and Indonesia as strategic partners. Kishida expressed Japan's willingness to support Indonesia's development in key areas such as infrastructure and energy, in addition to enhancing cooperation in security and defense. Furthermore, the joint commitment of both countries to expand defense cooperation through joint exercises and capacity-building programs in the Indo-Pacific region was reiterated by Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara in subsequent talks with Subianto.