Part I Security Environment Surrounding Japan
Section 5. Southeast Asia
1 General Situation
Southeast Asia is encompassed by the Straits of Malacca, the South China Sea, and the waters around
Indonesia and the Philippines, thus occupying a key strategic position for traffic by linking the Pacific and
Indian Oceans. The countries of this region have worked to achieve political stability and sound economic
progress while striving to deepen relations of interdependence with other countries both inside and outside the
region. However, this region still has unstable factors, including the territorial dispute over the Spratly Islands,
minority ethnic issues, separatist and independent movements, and Islamic extremist groups. Also, there are
incidents such as piracy by which the safe passage of ships was menaced. In response to these situations, the
countries in the region are trying to build sufficient military capabilities to deal with their security issues,
including antiterrorism measures and vigilance against pirates and armed robberies on the water. Also, they
have been modernizing their military forces, including the introduction of new warships to improve their naval
forces as well as the introduction of new-type fighters94. (See Fig. I-2-5-1)
Fig. I-2-5-1 Military Powers in Southeast Asia (approximate)
350,000 troops
80 vessels
20,000 tons
130 aircraft
410,000 troops
80 vessels
29,000 tons
230 aircraft
Myanmar
190,000 troops
190 vessels
103,000 tons
Laos
Thailand
Vietnam
The Philippines
Cambodia
200 aircraft
Spratly Islands
80,000 troops
10 vessels
500 tons
30 aircraft
80,000 troops
90 vessels
35,000 tons
70 aircraft
Malaysia
Singapore
Legends
Brunei
30,000 troops
20 aircraft
Indonesia
230,000 troops
190 vessels
238,000 tons
120 aircraft
50,000 troops
160 vessels
48,000 tons
170 aircraft
Ground forces (100,000 troops)
70,000 troops
80 vessels
46,000 tons
30 aircraft
5,000 troops
10 vessels
6,000 tons
Notes: 1. Source: Military Balance (2007) and others
2. Combat aircraft includes naval aircraft.
Naval vessels (50,000 tons)
Combat aircraft (100 aircraft)
In the region, multinational cooperation has also been promoted in order to deal with cross-border
problems as represented by terrorism and piracy. ASEAN countries have been continuously discussing
terrorism issues at various occasions. At the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial Meeting in July 2006,
the ministers adopted the ARF Statement on Cooperation in Fighting Cyber Attack and Terrorist Misuse of
Cyber Space. In July 2004, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore started the Trilateral Coordinated Patrols for
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vigilance against pirates and armed robberies in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore. For the patrols, the naval
forces of the three countries patrol their own territories while exchanging information. Subsequently in
September 2005, the countries launched their joint airborne patrols codenamed Eyes in the Sky. Since 2004,
Malaysia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand have conducted combined joint
exercises including maritime interdiction training every year within the framework of the Five Powers Defence
Arrangements (FPDA). In addition, the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed
Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP)95, which was proposed and promoted by Japan, entered into force in
September 2006 and the ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre was established in November 2006 in Singapore
based on the agreement.
2. Cooperation with the United States in Security Issues
Many Southeast Asian countries have conducted joint exercises with other countries both inside and outside the
region, including FPDA-based joint exercises. In addition, they have built cooperative relations in security with
the United States.
The United States regards Singapore as a Major Security Cooperation Partner. In July 2005, the two
nations signed the Strategic Framework Agreement between the United States of America and the Republic of
Singapore for a Closer Cooperation Partnership in Defense and Security, in order to strengthen the cooperation
in areas such as counter-terrorism, counter-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, defense technology,
joint military exercises and training, and policy dialogues.
The Philippines and the United States resumed their large-scale joint military exercise Balikatan in 2000. In
Balikatan 07 in February through March 2006 participated by about 1,200 Philippine military personnel and
about 400 U.S. military personnel, the two nations conducted command post exercises as well as support
activities for civilian reconstruction efforts in the areas such as the Sulu Archipelago.
Thailand and the United States started to hold a large-scale bilateral military exercise Cobra Gold in 1982.
This exercise has become multinational since 2000. In response to the military coup in Thailand in September
2006, the United States announced the suspension of military aid of about $24 million to Thailand. However,
the military exercise Cobra Gold 07 for 2007 was jointly organized by the United States and Thailand as usual.
In Cobra Gold 07 held in this May, the scope of the exercise includes a Field Training Exercise between the
Royal Thai Armed Forces and the U.S. Armed Forces and a non-combat purpose exercise such as Command
Post Exercise for PKO activities and Humanitarian/Civic Assistance around the exercise area96.
In 2003, the United States granted Major Non-NATO Ally97 status to the Philippines and Thailand.
For Indonesia, in response to Sumatra Earthquake and subsequent tsunami in the Indian Ocean, which
occurred in December 2004, the United States promptly dispatched USS Abraham Lincoln Carter Strike Group
to the devastated area, and played a key role in the relief activities conducted by many countries, in cooperation
with the Indonesian Armed Forces. Also, in February 2005, the United States expressed its intention to resume
the International Military Education and Training (IMET) program for Indonesia98, which had been suspended
since 1992. Subsequently in November 2005, the United States decided to resume the exportation of weapons
to Indonesia.
For Vietnam, then Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai visited the United States in June 2005 and
agreed with U.S. President George W. Bush to develop the bilateral relations to a new phase. In addition, the
leaders concluded an IMET agreement. The prime minister’s visit thus led to a great progress in military
cooperation between the two countries. In June 2006, then U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld visited
Vietnam and agreed with then Vietnamese Defense Minister Pham Van Tra to expand military exchanges
between the two countries.
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Part I Security Environment Surrounding Japan
Since 2000, the Multinational Planning and Argumentation Team (MPAT) program organized by the U.S.
Pacific Command, in which Southeast Asian nations, the United Nations and other international organizations
participate, has been conducted. This program is designed to prepare for contingencies such as large-scale
disasters where many countries would dispatch their troops for rescue operations. The purpose of the program
is to promote personnel exchanges and discussions on standard operating procedure in advance among those
who are expected to be dispatched. It is said that lessons learned from the MPAT program contributed to the
relief activities following Sumatra Earthquake and subsequent tsunami in the Indian Ocean.
3. East Timor Situation
In the East Timor, unfair treatment of soldiers from
the western side had developed into a political and
social conflict, which caused riot incidents in its
capital Dili in April 2006. Subsequently, in May
2006, military policemen deserted the national army
and attacked the national army headquarters to
aggravate the security. In response to the request
from the East Timor government, four countries, i.e.
Australia, New Zealand, Portugal, and Malaysia,
dispatched international security forces there at the
end of May 2006. Based on the adoption of Security
Council Resolution 1704, the United Nations
Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT), having
a mandate for such as support for presidential and
national parliament elections, recovery and maintenance of public order, and support for the reconstruction of
the security sector, was established in August 2006. The Mission is conducting activities in cooperation with
international security forces99. In April 2007, the first presidential election since the independence of the
country was held, and as a result of the subsequent runoff vote in May then Prime Minister Ramos Horta was
elected President.
4. Spratly Islands
The Spratly Islands are located in the central part of the South China Sea and comprise some 100 islets and
reefs. Undersea resources such as oil and natural gas are thought to exist in areas around the islands, besides
abundant fishery resources. The islands also occupy an important strategic position for maritime traffic. At
present, China, Taiwan, and Vietnam are laying territorial claim to the whole of the Spratly Islands, and the
Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei are claiming part of them. In 1988, the Chinese and Vietnamese navies had
armed clashes over rights to the Spratly Islands. Although the clashes temporarily raised tensions, there have
been no major military clashes since then. Chinese actions, however, such as the enactment of the Territorial
Waters Law in 1992, the building of structures on Mischief Reef in 1995, and the subsequent extension of work
on the buildings on Mischief Reef have drawn strong opposition from the countries involved. Also, there are
many differences in opinions among ASEAN member countries, as exemplified by the Philippines’ protest in
1999 against Malaysia building new structures on the reefs of the islands.
China had previously insisted on bilateral negotiations on this issue, but recently, there have been signs of
an impetus to find a peaceful solution to the dispute among all of the countries involved. The ARF Ministerial
Conference each year has adopted a chairman’s statement to the effect that it welcomes efforts by all sides to
find a peaceful solution to the problem, and ASEAN member countries drafted the Regional Code of Conduct
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in the South China Sea that includes prohibition of any new occupation of uninhabited features in the sea100. On
the other hand, at the ASEAN-China Summit Meeting held in November 2002, ASEAN member countries and
China signed the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea101, which aims for a peaceful
settlement of the territorial issues of the South China Sea through dialogue.
Recently, China has aggressively proposed to the related countries that they give priority to the
development of resources in the sea areas surrounding the Spratly Islands, apart from the territorial issue. For
example, in September 2004, China agreed with the Philippines on the joint oil field survey in the sea areas,
and in March 2005, China, the Philippines, and Vietnam reached an agreement on the launch of joint survey on
oil and natural gas in the South China Sea. Furthermore, ASEAN and China agreed to establish a joint working
group on resources development in the South China Sea and the agreement was approved by the ASEAN
Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in July 2005. The countries concerned, however, still have conflicting
opinions regarding the territorial rights over the South China Sea including the Spratly Islands, and attention
must be given to the actions of the countries involved and the developments on consultations to resolve the
issue.
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