Sr. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of National Defense, led the Vietnamese delegation to attend the 14th Japan-ASEAN Defense Vice-Ministerial Forum held in Fukuoka, Japan on Tuesday.

The forum underscored the significance of strengthening defense collaboration between ASEAN and Japan.

In his opening remarks, Japan’s Vice-Minister of Defense Kano Koji highlighted the unprecedented security challenges facing the region and the world, emphasizing concerns over coercive actions that undermine international law.

He reaffirmed Japan’s unwavering support for ASEAN’s central role and unity and pledged Japan’s active participation in regional multilateral security mechanisms, particularly the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+).

During the forum, ASEAN representatives shared insights on global and regional security developments and proposed measures to enhance ASEAN-Japan defense ties.

They also emphasized the importance of initiatives such as the Japan-ASEAN Ministerial Initiative for Enhanced Defense Cooperation (JASMINE), which Japan proposed at the 8th ASEAN-Japan Defense Ministers’ Informal Meeting held in November 2023, to bolster bilateral security collaboration.

Speaking at the forum, Sr. Lt. Gen. Chien said that while the overall global security environment remains stable, localized conflicts and tensions persist. 

Chien pointed out that both traditional and non-traditional security threats continue to pose challenges, affecting individual nations as well as the broader peace, stability, and development of the region and beyond.

Against this backdrop, the ADMM+ has proven effective in regional security management, fostering dialogue and cooperation to address security risks.

Chien commended Japan’s positive contributions in strengthening defense ties with ASEAN.

In 2024, Vietnam and Japan successfully co-chaired a cybersecurity capacity-building program, which helped ASEAN member states strengthen their ability to counter cyber threats.

He underlined that such initiatives have elevated ASEAN-Japan defense ties, aligning with their comprehensive strategic partnership.

For future defense collaboration between Japan and the bloc, Chien emphasized the need to maintain high-level dialogues and consultations through mechanisms such as the ASEAN-Japan Defense Ministers’ Informal Meeting and the Japan-ASEAN Defense Vice-Ministerial Forum.

The senior Vietnamese defense official also called for closer coordination within regional and international frameworks to safeguard peace and stability, particularly in ensuring maritime and aviation security in the East Vietnam Sea.

He stressed the importance of peacefully resolving disputes in accordance with international law.

He urged expanding practical and concrete cooperation within the key pillars of the JASMINE initiative, particularly in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, peacekeeping operations, post-war recovery efforts, hi-tech development, and defense training programs.

On the sidelines of the forum, Chien also held bilateral discussions with senior defense officials from Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia.

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