Photo/Illutration Defense Minister Gen Nakatani speaks at the Shangri-La Dialogue conference on May 31 in Singapore. (Mizuki Sato)

SINGAPORE—Japan was involved in flurry of solidarity activities apparently with China in mind at the Shangri-La Dialogue, an Asian defense conference, here.

In a speech on May 31, Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani proposed a security concept called OCEAN (One Cooperative Effort Among Nations).

Under OCEAN, cooperation and partnership would strengthen among countries with common values to monitor the entire Indo-Pacific region, Nakatani said.

Also that day, the defense chiefs of Japan, the United States, Australia and the Philippines met for the first time since U.S. President Donald Trump’s inauguration in January.

In a joint statement, they expressed continued and serious concern about China’s attempts to change the status quo in the East China Sea and South China Sea.

Nakatani also met separately with U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and they confirmed a policy of strengthening cooperation in the cyber domain.

After the meeting, Nakatani was asked by reporters about Hegseth’s speech calling on Japan to increase defense spending.

“It is important for Japan to take the initiative,” Nakatani said.

He added that he had conveyed this idea to Hegseth in the past.

Related News