WEBVTT

00:00.368 --> 00:03.035
(cameras flash)

00:12.750 --> 00:15.243
- Minister Onodera, Minister Song,

00:16.400 --> 00:19.283
military officers members
of the delegation,

00:20.350 --> 00:22.430
welcome and thank you for being here

00:22.430 --> 00:26.170
on our 10th trilateral ministerial.

00:26.170 --> 00:29.260
I also express my gratitude to our posts

00:29.260 --> 00:30.890
that our republic is famed for.

00:30.890 --> 00:34.063
They've been magnificent posts for them.

00:35.420 --> 00:37.653
When we consider the unity of purpose,

00:38.850 --> 00:41.803
the unity of purpose among
our three democracies,

00:42.680 --> 00:45.150
when we consider the combined economics

00:45.150 --> 00:48.073
and defense power represented here,

00:49.920 --> 00:52.770
we see that our security cooperation

00:52.770 --> 00:57.250
is needed more than ever
providing a stabilizing effect

00:57.250 --> 01:01.420
in support of our interests
for peace, deterrents,

01:01.420 --> 01:02.830
and stability.

01:02.830 --> 01:07.540
The strength between us in
this room is based on trust

01:07.540 --> 01:10.100
and we must never take it for granted,

01:10.100 --> 01:13.360
rather we must constantly
build on our transparency

01:13.360 --> 01:16.663
and our constant communication between us.

01:17.690 --> 01:20.200
Our military, the military cooperation

01:20.200 --> 01:23.870
has significantly increased
pressure on North Korea,

01:23.870 --> 01:27.473
aligned with United Nations
Security Council resolution,

01:29.970 --> 01:33.510
we welcome the Pyongyang
Declaration for Peace,

01:33.510 --> 01:37.860
Prosperity, Communication
of the Korean peninsula

01:39.350 --> 01:40.913
that was announced in April.

01:41.990 --> 01:46.113
We can anticipate at best a
bumpy road to the negotiation.

01:47.220 --> 01:50.400
As defense ministers, we
must maintain a strong,

01:50.400 --> 01:55.230
collaborative, defensive stance
so we enable our diplomats

01:55.230 --> 01:59.980
to negotiate from a calm
position of strength

01:59.980 --> 02:01.463
in this critical time.

02:02.940 --> 02:04.940
Especially now, we must remain vigilante

02:06.220 --> 02:08.120
and we will continue to implement

02:08.120 --> 02:12.243
all UN security counsel
resolutions on North Korea.

02:13.400 --> 02:16.240
North Korea will receive relief only

02:16.240 --> 02:18.440
when it demonstrates a verifiable

02:18.440 --> 02:22.710
and irreversible steps
to de-nuclearization,

02:22.710 --> 02:25.380
In this moment, we are
steadfastly committed

02:25.380 --> 02:29.810
to strengthening even further
our defense cooperation

02:29.810 --> 02:32.343
as the best means for
preserving the peace.

02:33.770 --> 02:37.630
We also know the stability
we suggest reaches far

02:37.630 --> 02:40.600
across the Indo-Pacific region,

02:40.600 --> 02:42.370
buttressing the values that we

02:42.370 --> 02:47.080
and other Democratic nations
share, which include respect

02:47.080 --> 02:51.710
for sovereignty and independence
for territorial integrity

02:51.710 --> 02:54.600
for freedom of navigation, for free

02:54.600 --> 02:58.350
and fair trade investment and
for the international rule

02:58.350 --> 03:02.110
of law with its peaceful
resolution of dispute

03:03.170 --> 03:06.350
for we do not accept South
China Sea militarization

03:07.970 --> 03:10.763
or any coercion in this region.

03:11.620 --> 03:14.240
The US embraces a forward looking vision

03:14.240 --> 03:19.090
for a safe, secure, prosperous,
and free Indo-Pacific

03:19.090 --> 03:22.434
where all nations enjoy full
benefits of sovereignty,

03:22.434 --> 03:24.293
regardless of their size.

03:25.470 --> 03:30.470
Ministers, I affirm America's
iron clad unwavering security

03:30.690 --> 03:35.690
commitment to your people and
our mutual security interests.

03:35.786 --> 03:38.850
I welcome your insights,
how we can enhance

03:38.850 --> 03:42.910
our security cooperation
including in the areas

03:42.910 --> 03:47.400
of information sharing,
multilateral exercises

03:47.400 --> 03:49.060
for our forces,

03:49.060 --> 03:53.730
and continued close eye
level policy consultation.

03:53.730 --> 03:55.300
I invite your ideas

03:55.300 --> 03:59.090
on how we can strengthen
our defense cooperation

03:59.090 --> 04:02.830
and maritime catastrophe
building interoperability

04:02.830 --> 04:07.120
on high end capabilities,
counter terrorism,

04:07.120 --> 04:10.740
and humanitarian disaster relief.

04:10.740 --> 04:15.460
Lastly, I need your thoughts
on PRC's militarization

04:15.460 --> 04:19.020
of the Spratley this month
in direct contradiction

04:19.020 --> 04:22.990
of President T's 2015 public assurances

04:22.990 --> 04:25.070
in the White House rose garden

04:25.070 --> 04:28.083
to not militarize these locations.

04:28.930 --> 04:32.010
Ministers, I look forward
to today's meeting.