Japanese PM reassures Asean after 'Asian Nato' proposal ruffles feathers

But idea not quite dead yet, with Ishiba having described it as 'one for the future'

- Walter Sim

TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba reassured Asean of continuity in Japan's foreign policy on his diplomatic debut just nine days after assuming office.

Speaking at a press conference on Oct 11 at the end of his visit to Vientiane, Laos, to attend Asean-related summits, he again stressed that Tokyo will remain the grouping's "most trusted partner".

This reassurance came after the 67-year-old military wonk ruffled diplomatic feathers while campaigning for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership with his pitch to create an Asian version of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) military alliance.

The proposal for a collective security framework in Asia, which was not well received in the region, was not raised even once during the two days of summitry.

An "Asian Nato", say analysts, would be divisive and seen as drawing fault lines with China, which would go against the spirit of Asean neutrality.

However, the proposal is not quite dead yet, with Mr Ishiba and his ministers having described it as "one for the future" and the Prime Minister saying in response to a question at the Oct 11 news conference that the proposal warranted debate and a consensus within the LDP.