Japan Keen to Enhance Political, Security Cooperation with Indonesia

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – For decades, the cooperation of Japan and Indonesia has evolved around economic interaction, such as trade and investment. But recently, both countries agreed to promote political and security cooperation.

Speaking to go.kompas.com, Japan’s Ambassador to Indonesia Kenji Kanasugi expressed hope that political and security cooperation between both countries will continue to increase.

“It’s a new area of cooperation. I would like to see this [political and security cooperation] more developing in the future,” said Kanasugi recently.

Kanasugi, who presented his credentials to President Joko Widodo on Feb. 4, 2021, said that the political and security issue is among the areas of cooperation to create and maintain a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific between the two strategic partners.

Also read: Jokowi to Japan PM Kishida: Indonesia Will Speed Up Jakarta Metro, Patimban Seaport Project

When giving an example, he said that Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force participated in joint exercises with the US and Indonesian armies last August. The training exercises took place in the south of the Indonesian island of Sumatra.

Initially, the joint exercise, known as Garuda Shield, was attended by the US and the Indonesian armies. The annual joint exercise started in 2007.

This year, however, the unprecedented multinational military exercises were dubbed 'Super Garuda Shield' and gathered Australia, Japan, Singapore, and other countries.

“This year, Indonesia expanded [the military exercises] into a multilateral framework. For the first time in history, Japan’s Land Self-Defense Force was invited to take part in the Super Garuda Shield training exercise,” the ambassador said.

Besides, the two countries also conducted Japan-Indonesia Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting or “2+2” ministerial meeting since its establishment in 2015 in Tokyo.

According to Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, last year four ministers involved in the “2+2” meeting agreed to deepen the bilateral security cooperation following the signing of the agreement on the transfer of defense equipment and technology.

Also read: Indonesia Wants to Continue Defense Equipment Cooperation with Japan

The ministers also concurred to continue collaborating in the field of maritime cooperation, including outer islands development, maritime surveillance, maritime law enforcement, and humanitarian and disaster risk reduction assistance, among others.

In their previous meeting, the four ministers also discussed regional and international issues of common interest, according to the website.

“A lot of efforts have been made to enhance the security and political cooperation with Indonesia,” Kanasugi said.

Economic ties

In the area of economic cooperation, the envoy said there has been a lot of positive development since the visit made by President Joko Widodo to Japan in July this year.

“Japan is very determined to invest more in the development of Patimban Port auto terminal and container terminal,” Kanasugi said, referring to the seaport in West Java located some 140 kilometers east of the Indonesian capital of Jakarta.

Also read: Japan Thanks Indonesia for Scrapping Coal Export Ban

"Japan is more than happy to cooperate with Indonesia in the infrastructure development and direct foreign investment from Japan to Indonesia."

The media reported the Patimban seaport, which needs a total investment of 43.2 trillion rupiahs ($2.8 billion), is also known as one of Indonesia’s priority infrastructure projects to boost the economy and reduce Jakarta’s congested Tanjung Priok port.

Kompas.com reported that President Joko Widodo told Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo that Indonesia will speed up several Japan-backed projects in the country.

The projects include the second phase of the Jakarta mass rapid transit (MRT) system project of the north-south, the first project of the east-west line, an industrial estate in West Papua, and expansion of the Patimban seaport and its toll roads access.

The Indonesian President underscored the importance of Japan’s continued support in the technology field to develop several strategic projects in the country, including the natural commodity downstream, electric vehicles, and the health and food sector. 

Japan and Indonesia have a long history of cooperation since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1958.