The 17th East Asia Summit (EAS)
November 13, 2022
[Provisional translation]
On November 13, commencing at 10:40 a.m. (local time) (0:40 p.m. on November 13 JST) for about 2.5 hours, the 17th East Asia Summit (EAS) (Chair: Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia) was held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Mr. KISHIDA Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan, attended the meeting. An overview of the meeting is as follows.
1. EAS cooperation
Prime Minister Kishida stated that Japan consistently supports ASEAN centrality and unity. He also emphasized that Japan values advancing cooperation in line with the priority areas of “the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific,” ASEAN’s own initiative, and would continue actively contributing to these efforts.
2. Regional and international affairs
(1) Situation in Ukraine
Prime Minister Kishida stated that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine violates international law. He emphasized that any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force should never be tolerated anywhere in the world. He also stressed that Russia’s threat to use nuclear weapons is absolutely unacceptable, let alone their actual use. He appealed to the international community as a whole to send out a clear message to prevent the use of nuclear weapons, which would be an act of hostility against humanity after 77 years of non-use of nuclear weapons.
Russia’s aggression against Ukraine was also condemned by other participating countries.
(2) East and South China Seas, Taiwan Strait, Hong Kong and the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region
Prime Minister Kishida pointed out that China’s activities that infringe upon Japan’s sovereignty had been continuing and intensifying in the East China Sea and that actions, such as militarization and coercive actions, that escalate tensions in the region continue in the South China Sea. Referring to ballistic missiles’ landing in the sea close to Japan including its EEZ August this year, he stated that the peace and
stability across the Taiwan Strait is an important issue which directly impacts regional security as well. Prime Minister Kishida also expressed serious concerns about the situation in Hong Kong and the human rights situation in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Furthermore, he expressed his strong opposition to any economic coercion in the region.
Ministry of Foreign Press Release Affairs of Japan The importance of the freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea and of the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law, in particular UNCLOS, was also mentioned. The importance of peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait, concerns on the situation in Hong Kong and the human rights situation in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, and economic coercion were also addressed by other participating countries.
(3) North Korea
Prime Minister Kishida stated that North Korea has been launching the spate of ballistic missiles with extremely high frequency since last month, including the one which flew over Japanese territory. These missile launches constitute a clear and serious challenge to the international community and cannot be tolerated. He then reiterated that it is essential for the international community to come together and
fully implement the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs) for achieving the CVID (complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement) of all weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles of all ranges of North Korea.
Furthermore, Prime Minister Kishida asked for continued understanding and cooperation toward the immediate resolution of the abductions issue.
Concerns about the situation in which North Korea launched the spate of ballistic missiles with extremely high frequency were expressed by other participating countries. The importance of the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the full implementation of the relevant UNSCRs as well as the early resolution of the abductions issue were also addressed.
(4) Situation in Myanmar
Prime Minister Kishida expressed that Japan seriously deplores the deteriorating situation in Myanmar and would continue its utmost support for ASEAN’s efforts for the implementation of “Five-Point Consensus.” He also called for the immediate cessation of violence as well as safe and unhindered humanitarian access.
Serious concerns over the situation in Myanmar and emphasized the importance of implementing “the Five-Point Consensus” were also expressed by other participating countries.
3. Concluding remarks
In conclusion, Prime Minister Kishida pointed out that the EAS is more important than ever now that the very foundation of the international order is being shaken, and the international community is standing at a historic crossroads. He emphasized that Japan would continue to strengthen cooperation through ASEAN-led fora including the EAS to realize a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” and to ensure the peace and prosperity of the region and international community.
On November 13, commencing at 10:40 a.m. (local time) (0:40 p.m. on November 13 JST) for about 2.5 hours, the 17th East Asia Summit (EAS) (Chair: Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia) was held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Mr. KISHIDA Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan, attended the meeting. An overview of the meeting is as follows.
1. EAS cooperation
Prime Minister Kishida stated that Japan consistently supports ASEAN centrality and unity. He also emphasized that Japan values advancing cooperation in line with the priority areas of “the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific,” ASEAN’s own initiative, and would continue actively contributing to these efforts.
2. Regional and international affairs
(1) Situation in Ukraine
Prime Minister Kishida stated that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine violates international law. He emphasized that any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force should never be tolerated anywhere in the world. He also stressed that Russia’s threat to use nuclear weapons is absolutely unacceptable, let alone their actual use. He appealed to the international community as a whole to send out a clear message to prevent the use of nuclear weapons, which would be an act of hostility against humanity after 77 years of non-use of nuclear weapons.
Russia’s aggression against Ukraine was also condemned by other participating countries.
(2) East and South China Seas, Taiwan Strait, Hong Kong and the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region
Prime Minister Kishida pointed out that China’s activities that infringe upon Japan’s sovereignty had been continuing and intensifying in the East China Sea and that actions, such as militarization and coercive actions, that escalate tensions in the region continue in the South China Sea. Referring to ballistic missiles’ landing in the sea close to Japan including its EEZ August this year, he stated that the peace and
stability across the Taiwan Strait is an important issue which directly impacts regional security as well. Prime Minister Kishida also expressed serious concerns about the situation in Hong Kong and the human rights situation in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Furthermore, he expressed his strong opposition to any economic coercion in the region.
Ministry of Foreign Press Release Affairs of Japan The importance of the freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea and of the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law, in particular UNCLOS, was also mentioned. The importance of peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait, concerns on the situation in Hong Kong and the human rights situation in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, and economic coercion were also addressed by other participating countries.
(3) North Korea
Prime Minister Kishida stated that North Korea has been launching the spate of ballistic missiles with extremely high frequency since last month, including the one which flew over Japanese territory. These missile launches constitute a clear and serious challenge to the international community and cannot be tolerated. He then reiterated that it is essential for the international community to come together and
fully implement the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs) for achieving the CVID (complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement) of all weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles of all ranges of North Korea.
Furthermore, Prime Minister Kishida asked for continued understanding and cooperation toward the immediate resolution of the abductions issue.
Concerns about the situation in which North Korea launched the spate of ballistic missiles with extremely high frequency were expressed by other participating countries. The importance of the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the full implementation of the relevant UNSCRs as well as the early resolution of the abductions issue were also addressed.
(4) Situation in Myanmar
Prime Minister Kishida expressed that Japan seriously deplores the deteriorating situation in Myanmar and would continue its utmost support for ASEAN’s efforts for the implementation of “Five-Point Consensus.” He also called for the immediate cessation of violence as well as safe and unhindered humanitarian access.
Serious concerns over the situation in Myanmar and emphasized the importance of implementing “the Five-Point Consensus” were also expressed by other participating countries.
3. Concluding remarks
In conclusion, Prime Minister Kishida pointed out that the EAS is more important than ever now that the very foundation of the international order is being shaken, and the international community is standing at a historic crossroads. He emphasized that Japan would continue to strengthen cooperation through ASEAN-led fora including the EAS to realize a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” and to ensure the peace and prosperity of the region and international community.
