Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Subianto met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo to discuss bolstering the already-existing cooperative relationship between the two countries. Subianto, currently serving as the defense minister, conveyed his commitment to strengthening ties with Japan, emphasizing the longstanding friendship and shared values between Indonesia and Japan. Japan has been actively seeking closer connections with Southeast Asian nations, especially in the realms of maritime security and defense, in response to China's escalating military presence in the region.
Subianto's decision to visit China as his first official overseas trip post-election victory was aimed at underlining Indonesia's steadfast relationship with China amidst rising tensions in the South China Sea. During his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Subianto reiterated Indonesia's friendly stance towards China. With China being Indonesia's largest trading partner and investing in significant infrastructure projects, Indonesia has maintained a relatively neutral position amid the territorial disputes between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea. Kishida welcomed Subianto's early visit to Japan, highlighting the mutual values and principles shared by the two nations and expressing Japan's interest in strengthening their partnership on regional and global issues.
In addition to discussing ways to enhance cooperation in infrastructure, energy, security, and defense, Japan expressed its commitment to contributing to Indonesia's development. Kishida's meeting with Subianto preceded his upcoming summit in Washington with U.S. President Joe Biden where security ties will be further reinforced, including discussions with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The leaders are expected to engage in talks aimed at strengthening security cooperation amongst the countries involved. Furthermore, Subianto engaged in discussions with Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara, where both ministers pledged to intensify defense collaboration. Japan and Indonesia are broadening their joint exercises in the Indo-Pacific region, along with capacity-building initiatives and educational programs, with a shared vision of fostering a free and open Indo-Pacific based on the rule of law.