Japan’s Minister of Defence, Shinjiro Koizumi, called for collective action to “safeguard the Pacific as the ocean of peace” as he opened the 3rd Japan Pacific Islands Defense Ministers Dialogue (JPIDD) in Tokyo on 23 February.
The meeting brought together representatives from 28 countries, including defence ministers from Tonga, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and other Pacific Island Countries (PICs), as well as partner nations and ASEAN member states.
In his welcoming address, Koizumi described the Pacific Ocean as a shared space that unites nations. He said the ocean “has always been and remains a shared embrace, a blue corridor that binds nations together.”
He emphasized the need to address common challenges facing the region, including rising sea levels, cyclones, floods and droughts driven by climate change. Koizumi also pointed to threats to maritime order, such as illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, smuggling, trafficking and transnational crimes involving drugs and weapons.
“These actually do more than plunder marine resources or erode national sovereignty. They steadily corrode our societies and economies and shape the very foundations of the rule of law,” he said.
Peace grounded in the rule of law
Koizumi condemned what he described as the weaponization of economies, technologies, resources, information and cyberspaces. He called for a “free and open ocean of peace grounded in the rule of law.”
Looking ahead, he encouraged greater networking and connectivity among Pacific nations to address shared security and environmental challenges.
Marking four years since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Koizumi referred to what he described as Russia’s aggression toward Ukraine. “I sincerely hope that this JPIDD will serve as a platform where we stand united in our unwavering commitment to peace, and where we reaffirm that attempts to change the status quo by force must never be tolerated,” he said.
Japan and Tonga strengthen defence ties
Following the opening session, Koizumi held bilateral talks with Tonga’s Defence Minister, Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukalala.
At the outset, Koizumi said Japan and Tonga are “valuable friends connected by the Pacific Ocean” and partners that share fundamental values such as freedom, democracy and the rule of law.
Both ministers welcomed progress in defence cooperation, including maritime security and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR), as well as capacity-building initiatives. Koizumi said Japan intends to proactively continue engagement in these areas.
He also welcomed the first-ever cadets from Tonga to attend Japan’s National Defense Academy and proposed a new initiative titled the “Next-Generation Leadership Security Program.” The program would invite young and mid-level defence officials from Pacific Island countries to Japan to promote greater human exchange.
In response, the Crown Prince described the initiative as a “wonderful proposal” and said Tonga would gladly accept the offer.
The two ministers agreed to draft a Memorandum on Defence Cooperation and Exchanges to further strengthen security collaboration between the two countries.
