Japanese Defense Minister: "Plans to Meet U.S. and South Korean Ministers at ASEAN Meeting"

Japanese Defense Minister Koizumi Shinjiro is reportedly planning to meet with the defense ministers of the United States, South Korea and the Philippines at the 13th ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus), scheduled to take place in Cebu, Philippines, on October 29.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Yonhap News.

According to Kyodo News on October 27, Koizumi said he would visit the Philippines from October 28 to 30 and strengthen defense cooperation through meetings with the defense ministers of various countries.

"I will make it clear that Japan will actively contribute to regional peace and stability and continue to be a sincere and highly transparent partner," Koizumi said. "I will also explain the status of the review of the three security-related documents, which are set to be revised by the end of this year."

The Japanese government plans to revise three security documents: the National Security Strategy, the National Defense Strategy and the Defense Buildup Program. Attention is focused on whether the revisions will include a review of the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles," which Japan has maintained as a national policy, the introduction of nuclear-powered submarines and an increase in defense spending.

The ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus is a multilateral security forum attended by ASEAN member states and eight dialogue partners: South Korea, China, Japan, the United States, Russia, India, Australia and New Zealand.

South Korean Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth are reportedly expected to attend the meeting and hold in-person talks.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.