PM Lee welcomes Japan’s efforts on TPP, calls for stronger bilateral ties

TOKYO — Singapore welcomes Japan’s efforts to play a more active role in the region, visiting Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Wednesday (Sept 28), as he called for a strengthening of bilateral relations.

Addressing the media after a summit meeting with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe, Mr Lee added that Tokyo’s drive to ratify the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade pact is “especially important”, given Japan’s economic heft and rising protectionist sentiments around the world. 

Japan’s ratification of the TPP, which will see trade liberalised through the removal of tariffs on various goods and services, would also be crucial in sending a strong signal to the international community that Japan and Singapore remain committed to free trade, said Mr Lee. “I am encouraged that the Diet is debating the TPP now, and Mr Abe expressed confidence that he will get support for the TPP and get it passed,” he added.

Mr Lee also reiterated Singapore’s support for Mr Abe’s “proactive contribution to peace” policy, and the peace and security legislation under the framework of the United States-Japan Security Alliance.

Earlier this year, Japan’s new security laws took effect, allowing Tokyo to exercise collective self-defence under strict conditions, such as when the country’s survival is threatened. 

The changes also enable Japan to provide logistical support  for the militaries of the US and other countries, and to participate in international peacekeeping missions.

Mr Lee is on a four-day official visit to Japan. His meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister on Wednesday (Sept 28) is their ninth since 2013.

Calling discussions with Mr Abe “fruitful”, Mr Lee said he hoped progress can be made on a third review of the Japan-Singapore Economic Partnership Agreement (JSEPA), Japan’s first free trade agreement (FTA) and Singapore’s first with a major trading partner. Mr Lee said that JSEPA should be brought “up to date”, because it needs to be “refreshed” as conditions change.

Japan also invited President Tony Tan to pay a state visit in November, for which Mr Lee expressed his appreciation.

Japan is one of Singapore’s largest trading partners. Last year, it was the Republic’s eighth-largest trading partner with bilateral trade of S$46.5 billion. Japan is also Singapore’s second-largest investor after the US, with cumulative direct investment of S$109.4 billion as of end-2014.

Singapore, meanwhile, is Japan’s top Asian foreign direct investor, and fifth largest overall, with a cumulative investment of US$15.1 billion (S$20.61 billion) as of the end of last year.

Earlier on Wednesday, Mr Lee met with Liberal Democratic Party secretary-general Toshihiro Nikai and had lunch with Japanese business leaders.