Asean, Japan to boost maritime security cooperation

From left: Philippines' Foreign Affairs Acting Undersecretary Theresa Lazaro, Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Thailand's Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai, Director-General of the Asean Department of Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Vu Ho, Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Laos' Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith and Indonesia's Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi pose for pictures during the 55th Asean Foreign Ministers' meeting in Phnom Penh on Thursday. (Photo: AFP)

Foreign ministers from Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) on Thursday pledged to cooperate in promoting maritime security in the Indo-Pacific in a veiled counter to China's muscle-flexing in regional waters.

In a meeting with his Asean counterparts in Phnom Penh, Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi voiced "strong opposition" to any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo by force in the East and South China seas, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said.