Indonesia, Japan affirm deeper ties during Abe’s Asian tour 

Shinzo Abe (right) inspects an honor guard with his Indonesian President Joko Widodo (second left)

Japan and Indonesia yesterday affirmed a deepening of economic and political ties during a visit by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is using a four-nation tour of Asia to underscore his government’s role in countering China’s assertiveness in the South China Sea.

After meeting with Abe, Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said the increase in Japanese investment in Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest economy, has been “very significant,” more than doubling to USD4.5 billion in January-September of last year.

He said the countries agreed that their defense and foreign ministers will meet in Indonesia this year under a new forum they established in 2015 to increase maritime cooperation.

Jokowi said there were agreements on development of a deep-sea port and the Masela gas field in Indonesia, and for preliminary discussions of a Jakarta-Surabaya rail line. He did not give specifics.

Abe’s trip is largely aimed at taking a leadership role in promoting regional cooperation to counter Beijing at a time of increased tension between China and the U.S. and uncertainty about the policies of the incoming Donald Trump administration.

With the tour, Tokyo wants to send a message that its respect for a rules-based international system, in contrast to China’s more aggressive behavior in the South China Sea, where it has vast territorial claims, makes it the best partner for Southeast Asian countries.

The trip has included two of America’s main allies in the region, Australia and the Philippines, where Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s hostility to the U.S. has raised doubts about its commitment to the U.S. alliance that Japan is a crucial part of.

Australia and Japan agreed to greater military cooperation, and in the Philippines, Abe pledged $8.7 billion in business opportunities and investment.

Jokowi said that in his meeting with Abe, he asked for Japan to open access for Indonesian agricultural goods, improve access for Indonesian nurses to work in Japan, commence a review of the Indonesia-Japan economic partnership agreement this year, and grant national carrier Garuda rights for a Jakarta-Tokyo-Los Angeles route.

After Indonesia, Abe will visit Vietnam, which the U.S. has cultivated stronger ties with as a part of President Barack Obama’s pivot to Asia policy.

Trump, however, has said he will scrap U.S. involvement in the Trans Pacific Partnership trade agreement, which was a signature part of Obama’s policy. AP