The JPIDD stands as a cornerstone of the regional security architecture established by Japan, contributing significantly to regional peace and security through the cultivation of trust and the fostering of sustained practical cooperation among its members and dialogue partners.
Throughout the meeting, Minister Joseph engaged with his counterparts and dialogue partners, exchanging perspectives on the prevailing regional security landscape and the myriad challenges facing the Indo-Pacific region.
In his address, Minister Joseph stated the imperative for Pacific Island countries and their security partners to unite and collaborate in upholding and reinforcing the rules-based international order, essential for maintaining peace and stability in the region.
“As a unified Pacific family, we must confront head-on the current and emerging security challenges arising from heightened geo-strategic competition, climate change, maritime security concerns, non-traditional security threats including Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, transnational crime, as well as space and cyber security vulnerabilities. It is incumbent upon us to collectively realize our shared vision for a Blue Pacific Continent—a resilient Pacific Region characterized by peace, harmony, security, social inclusion, and prosperity, ensuring the equitable provision of freedom, health, and productivity for all,” he stated.
Recognising the pivotal roles played by Japan and traditional allies such as Australia, New Zealand, and the United States in the JPIDD framework, Joseph urged them to enhance their support for Pacific Island Countries in fostering collaboration and advancing a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, conducive to peace and economic prosperity for all.
“We urge our partners to provide genuine assistance to individual Pacific Island countries, with a regional emphasis on capacity building across areas such as training, equipment support, and infrastructure development, guided by the principle of ‘aiding us in helping ourselves’,” he emphasised.
“In so doing, we envision a self-sufficient region, led by Pacific Islands, championing a collective regional response to address its security challenges effectively.”
