In the first half of this month, Japan’s prime minister delivered a foreign policy speech outlining the evolution of the FOIP initiative. Ten years after the launch of FOIP and amid structural changes in the international order, the prime minister stated that Japan would further advance FOIP, accelerate its efforts, and deepen cooperation with like-minded partners to build an international order in the Indo-Pacific based on freedom, openness, diversity, inclusiveness, and the rule of law.

ASEAN leaders adopted a declaration on maritime cooperation. The declaration reaffirmed UNCLOS as the legal framework governing all activities in the maritime domain, and called for the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law, as well as strengthened cooperation in a wide range of maritime-related fields, including maritime security.

Meanwhile, in the strategically important Luzon Strait, U.S. and Philippine forces, with the participation of Japan, conducted a large-scale live-fire maritime strike drill as part of the “Balikatan” exercise, further strengthening coordination among allies and partners.

At the same time, reports emerged of China’s unilateral marine research activities near Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines, as well as Viet Nam’s opposition to China’s unilateral fishing restrictions.