On July 2nd, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Kaikun presided over the regular press conference.
A journalist asked that since the beginning of this year, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Moteki has frequently mentioned the so-called "Free and Open Indian Pacific Concept." Officials from various levels in Japan have visited countries such as the Philippines, Vietnam, and Australia to lobby for this concept. During her visit to India, Yoshihide Moteki once again emphasized the importance of establishing the so-called "Free and Open Indian Pacific Region." What are the comments of the spokesperson on this?
Guo Jiaqun said that while shouting for freedom and openness, people actually harbor thoughts of opposition and confrontation. Such a hypocritical concept goes against the common aspirations of regional countries to seek peace, promote development, and foster cooperation. It is also doomed not to receive genuine recognition.
Guo Jiaqun emphasized that what the Asia-Pacific region needs is stability, not turmoil, and what it values is cooperation, not division. Maintaining the post-war international order and upholding the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter are the foundations for prosperity and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. It is also a shared responsibility of the countries in the region. In the face of some actions that create division and provoke confrontation, the countries in the region need to be more vigilant than ever. They must unite as one, maintain the correct direction of Asia-Pacific cooperation, enhance mutual trust through dialogue and negotiation, protect peace through mutually beneficial cooperation, and jointly build a prosperous, stable, open, inclusive, and harmonious Asia-Pacific region.
According to Japan's Kyodo News, on July 1 local time, Koike Manako left Tokyo for a visit to India.
On the afternoon of July 1st local time, Koike Maya departed from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport for her visit to India. Jiji Press
According to reports, Gao will hold talks with Indian Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi, the capital of India, on the 2nd. It is expected that both sides will issue a joint statement to promote cooperation based on the so-called ‘Free Open Indo-Pacific Vision’.
On the 1st of September, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan will have a summit with India, the United States and Australia to discuss topics such as the "Quadrilateral Framework", aiming to build mutual trust with Modi and discuss concrete measures towards realizing the New Indo-Pacific vision for free and open trade.
On May 31, at the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue, Japanese Defense Minister Nobuaki Kōszaburo also vigorously promoted the so-called "New Free and Open Indian-Pacific Concept," advocating for Japan to further strengthen its defense capabilities and enhance cooperation with regional national security mechanisms. He stated that Japan is determined to play a "new role" in regional defense equipment and technology cooperation.
"Free and Open Indo-Pacific" (FOP) Policy Conception is a proposal put forth by former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in August 2016 during his visit to Africa. In March 2023, the Japanese Kishida administration proposed four concrete pathways for realizing the FOP goals: maintaining peace, cooperating with Indo-Pacific countries to address new global challenges; achieving interconnectedness through multiple platforms; and ensuring maritime and air security.
On February 20th of this year, Yoshihide Nakai upgraded Abe’s strategy of “free and open Indo-Pacific” during her speech in the parliament, and declared it to be the main guideline for Japan’s foreign policy. At that time, one of the key measures proposed by Nakai to implement this vision was “strengthening the foundation of the digital economy and the supply chains of critical minerals,” in order to enhance economic security cooperation between Japan and other countries.
In the current situation where the current government is vigorously pushing for the revision of Japan’s three major security documents, lifting restrictions on Japan’s arms exports, strengthening legislation on foreign intelligence work, and stirring public opinion to amend the Peace Constitution, Yukio Kaşida’s concept of “free and open Indo-Pacific” aims to break the constraints imposed on Japan by post-war rules.
Feng Chao, an associate professor at the Oriental Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, analyzed for the Observer Network that the concept of 'Free and Open Indo-Pacific' appears to be an upgrade from Abe to Kousaka, but in reality it is a manifestation of anxiety—anxiety about the instability of the United States, anxiety about China's rapid rise, and anxiety about the dilution of Japan's influence in Southeast Asia. It clearly reflects a self-saving strategy. Japan wants to pursue both political and security interests, but its national strength cannot support such ambitions.
