Japan to join ASEAN defence hotline

Japanese Defence Minister Kishi Nobuo (Source: Reuters)

Hanoi (VNA) – Japanese Defence Minister Kishi Nobuo on December 28 announced that Japan will join the defence hotlines set up among the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

At his talks via videoconference with Brunei's Second Defence Minister Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, Kishi confirmed that Tokyo will join and make the best use of the ASEAN Direct Communications Infrastructure (ADI). Brunei is the ASEAN Chair in 2021.

Earlier at an online meeting in June, defence chiefs of ASEAN member countries and Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, the Republic of Korea and the US agreed on the expansion of the hotline.

The Brunei minister welcomed Japan’s joining the ADI. As scheduled, Japan will officially engage in the ADI in 2022 or later after the hotline between the country and the ASEAN is launched.

Currently, Australia has joined the ADI./.

VNA