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Kyodo News
10-07-2025
- Business
- Kyodo News
Japan seeks free, fair trade in talks with ASEAN amid tensions
KUALA LUMPUR - Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya called for a "free, fair and open" international economic order in his talks Thursday with his ASEAN counterparts in Malaysia, amid trade tensions stemming from the threat of steep U.S. tariffs against Japan and the group's members. Noting the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations is "at the center of global growth," Iwaya said Japan is eager to strengthen cooperation with the regional bloc, adding its role has been "increasingly important for regional peace and prosperity." With the tariffs proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump in mind, the Japanese minister stressed the need to "maintain and strengthen" the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core. Trump has said the United States will impose a 25 percent tariff on imports from Japan starting Aug. 1, while goods from six ASEAN members will face up to 40 percent duties. At the talks, ASEAN ministers pointed to the importance of ensuring freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and resolving disputes in the waters based on the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said, amid tensions between China and some ASEAN members over territorial rows. The Japanese minister also unveiled Tokyo's plan to boost people-to-people exchanges with ASEAN nations, including the dispatch of some 600 "Japanese language partners" to the region by the end of March next year. Iwaya separately met with his counterparts from the Mekong countries -- Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam -- and vowed to boost Japan's cooperation with them in such areas as disaster prevention, decarbonization and digitalization, as well as efforts to tackle cross-border crimes including online fraud. The other ASEAN members are Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore. In a joint statement, Japan and the five Mekong countries underscored the need to address transboundary issues such as cybercrimes, online scams and money laundering. Japanese nationals are among those involved in online fraud operations run by criminal organizations that have bases in Southeast Asian countries such as Myanmar and Cambodia. Japan and the Mekong nations also recognized the importance of holding a new round of summit meetings involving their leaders. They last held a leaders' gathering in a video conference format in 2020.
10-07-2025
- Business
Japan to Strengthen Economic Cooperation with ASEAN: Iwaya
News from Japan Politics Jul 10, 2025 22:31 (JST) Kuala Lumpur, July 10 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya expressed his country's eagerness to strengthen economic cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, at a meeting with his ocunterparts from ASEAN member states in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday. Iwaya stressed the increasing need to maintain and strengthen a rules-based, free, fair and open international economic order, at a time when U.S. President Donald Trump is imposing high tariffs. The top Japanese diplomat described ASEAN as a cornerstone for realizing a free and open Indo-Pacific, and indicated plans to strengthen cooperation in areas including maritime security, transnational organized crime and cybersecurity. The ASEAN side underscored the importance of free navigation in the South China Sea and the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, with China in mind. Later in the day, Iwaya attended a meeting of foreign ministers from ASEAN plus Japan, China and South Korea. He expressed a vision for deepening future-oriented cooperation in a wide range of fields, including disaster prevention. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
02-07-2025
- Politics
Lithuania's defense chief praises Philippine campaign exposing China's aggression
MANILA, Philippines -- A Philippine campaign aimed at exposing China's aggression in the disputed South China Sea has shattered 'the illusion of China being peaceful and friendly,' Lithuania's defense chief said Wednesday, urging democratic countries to stand united against an emerging axis of authoritarian countries led by China and Russia. Beginning in 2023, the campaign, which Manila calls a 'transparency initiative," includes publicizing images of China's aggressive actions in the disputed waters. 'I believe that, in this case, revealing to the world how China is harassing the Philippine's navy and fishermen of the Philippines in their own waters is very important because it shatters the illusion of China being a peaceful and friendly neighbor,' Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė said. 'It's nothing peaceful when you see water cannons being used against peaceful fishermen and there's nothing peaceful about ramming the ships of Philippines in the territorial waters of the Philippines," she added. Šakalienė expressed support to former Filipino senator Francis Tolentino while in the capital for talks aimed at deepening defense ties between the two countries. Tolentino was sanctioned by China on Tuesday for his strong criticisms of Beijing's acts of aggression and for his work on two new laws, which demarcated Philippine territorial zones, including in parts of the South China Sea that Beijing claims. Šakalienė said she and her family had also been sanctioned by China and banned from entering the country for her strong criticisms of China's aggression and human rights record. 'Welcome to the club,' Šakalienė said in an interview with a small group of journalists, including from The Associated Press, in response to China's sanction against Tolentino. 'Talking about China's crimes is what gets you into the blacklist.' "Pressure, coercion and threats is their usual method of operation,' she said. Chinese officials did not immediately comment on Šakalienė's remarks. During President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s administration, which began in mid-2022, the Philippines invited Filipino and foreign journalists to join its coast guard and navy patrols in the disputed South China Sea. They have witnessed an increasingly alarming spike of confrontations in the waters in recent years, with China using water cannons and dangerous maneuvers to defend its claim to the global trade route. China blames the Philippines for instigating the clashes. A 2016 international arbitration decision invalidated China's claims based on the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, but Beijing has rejected the ruling and continues to defy it. Šakalienė said that in the Baltic Sea, Chinese ships and crew members have helped suspected Russian fleets damage undersea oil pipelines, and data and electricity cables belonging to rival European nations like Lithuania by dragging steel anchors on the seafloor. She warned that such acts of sabotage could also be carried out in Asia by China and Russia. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have also been involved in the long-simmering territorial disputes in the South China Sea but they have not been as vocal against China's aggression as the Philippines. The United States does not lay claim to the disputed waters but has repeatedly warned that it is obligated to defend the Philippines — Washington's oldest treaty ally in Asia — if it comes under an armed attack. Šakalienė warned that it's crucial for countries to band together and fight an emerging authoritarian bloc consisting of China, Russia, Iran and North Korea which she said is a threat to democracy.
Hamilton Spectator
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Lithuania's defense chief praises Philippine campaign exposing China's aggression
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A Philippine campaign aimed at exposing China's aggression in the disputed South China Sea has shattered 'the illusion of China being peaceful and friendly,' Lithuania's defense chief said Wednesday, urging democratic countries to stand united against an emerging axis of authoritarian countries led by China and Russia. Beginning in 2023, the campaign, which Manila calls a 'transparency initiative,' includes publicizing images of China's aggressive actions in the disputed waters. 'I believe that, in this case, revealing to the world how China is harassing the Philippine's navy and fishermen of the Philippines in their own waters is very important because it shatters the illusion of China being a peaceful and friendly neighbor,' Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė said. 'It's nothing peaceful when you see water cannons being used against peaceful fishermen and there's nothing peaceful about ramming the ships of Philippines in the territorial waters of the Philippines,' she added. Šakalienė expressed support to former Filipino senator Francis Tolentino while in the capital for talks aimed at deepening defense ties between the two countries. Tolentino was sanctioned by China on Tuesday for his strong criticisms of Beijing's acts of aggression and for his work on two new laws, which demarcated Philippine territorial zones, including in parts of the South China Sea that Beijing claims. Šakalienė said she and her family had also been sanctioned by China and banned from entering the country for her strong criticisms of China's aggression and human rights record. 'Welcome to the club,' Šakalienė said in an interview with a small group of journalists, including from The Associated Press, in response to China's sanction against Tolentino. 'Talking about China's crimes is what gets you into the blacklist.' 'Pressure, coercion and threats is their usual method of operation,' she said. Chinese officials did not immediately comment on Šakalienė's remarks. During President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s administration, which began in mid-2022, the Philippines invited Filipino and foreign journalists to join its coast guard and navy patrols in the disputed South China Sea. They have witnessed an increasingly alarming spike of confrontations in the waters in recent years, with China using water cannons and dangerous maneuvers to defend its claim to the global trade route. China blames the Philippines for instigating the clashes. A 2016 international arbitration decision invalidated China's claims based on the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, but Beijing has rejected the ruling and continues to defy it. Šakalienė said that in the Baltic Sea , Chinese ships and crew members have helped suspected Russian fleets damage undersea oil pipelines, and data and electricity cables belonging to rival European nations like Lithuania by dragging steel anchors on the seafloor. She warned that such acts of sabotage could also be carried out in Asia by China and Russia. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have also been involved in the long-simmering territorial disputes in the South China Sea but they have not been as vocal against China's aggression as the Philippines. The United States does not lay claim to the disputed waters but has repeatedly warned that it is obligated to defend the Philippines — Washington's oldest treaty ally in Asia — if it comes under an armed attack. Šakalienė warned that it's crucial for countries to band together and fight an emerging authoritarian bloc consisting of China, Russia, Iran and North Korea which she said is a threat to democracy. ___ Associated Press journalists Joeal Calupitan and Aaron Favila in Manila contributed to this report. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Winnipeg Free Press
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Lithuania's defense chief praises Philippine campaign exposing China's aggression
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A Philippine campaign aimed at exposing China's aggression in the disputed South China Sea has shattered 'the illusion of China being peaceful and friendly,' Lithuania's defense chief said Wednesday, urging democratic countries to stand united against an emerging axis of authoritarian countries led by China and Russia. Beginning in 2023, the campaign, which Manila calls a 'transparency initiative,' includes publicizing images of China's aggressive actions in the disputed waters. 'I believe that, in this case, revealing to the world how China is harassing the Philippine's navy and fishermen of the Philippines in their own waters is very important because it shatters the illusion of China being a peaceful and friendly neighbor,' Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė said. 'It's nothing peaceful when you see water cannons being used against peaceful fishermen and there's nothing peaceful about ramming the ships of Philippines in the territorial waters of the Philippines,' she added. Šakalienė expressed support to former Filipino senator Francis Tolentino while in the capital for talks aimed at deepening defense ties between the two countries. Tolentino was sanctioned by China on Tuesday for his strong criticisms of Beijing's acts of aggression and for his work on two new laws, which demarcated Philippine territorial zones, including in parts of the South China Sea that Beijing claims. Šakalienė said she and her family had also been sanctioned by China and banned from entering the country for her strong criticisms of China's aggression and human rights record. 'Welcome to the club,' Šakalienė said in an interview with a small group of journalists, including from The Associated Press, in response to China's sanction against Tolentino. 'Talking about China's crimes is what gets you into the blacklist.' 'Pressure, coercion and threats is their usual method of operation,' she said. Chinese officials did not immediately comment on Šakalienė's remarks. During President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s administration, which began in mid-2022, the Philippines invited Filipino and foreign journalists to join its coast guard and navy patrols in the disputed South China Sea. They have witnessed an increasingly alarming spike of confrontations in the waters in recent years, with China using water cannons and dangerous maneuvers to defend its claim to the global trade route. China blames the Philippines for instigating the clashes. A 2016 international arbitration decision invalidated China's claims based on the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, but Beijing has rejected the ruling and continues to defy it. Šakalienė said that in the Baltic Sea, Chinese ships and crew members have helped suspected Russian fleets damage undersea oil pipelines, and data and electricity cables belonging to rival European nations like Lithuania by dragging steel anchors on the seafloor. She warned that such acts of sabotage could also be carried out in Asia by China and Russia. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have also been involved in the long-simmering territorial disputes in the South China Sea but they have not been as vocal against China's aggression as the Philippines. The United States does not lay claim to the disputed waters but has repeatedly warned that it is obligated to defend the Philippines — Washington's oldest treaty ally in Asia — if it comes under an armed attack. Šakalienė warned that it's crucial for countries to band together and fight an emerging authoritarian bloc consisting of China, Russia, Iran and North Korea which she said is a threat to democracy. ___ Associated Press journalists Joeal Calupitan and Aaron Favila in Manila contributed to this report.
