Trilateral Strategic Dialogue
Joint statement
4 October 2013
The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia, Julie Bishop, the Foreign Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida, and the Secretary of State of the United States, John Kerry, met in Bali, Indonesia on October 4, 2013 for the fifth ministerial meeting of the Trilateral Strategic Dialogue (TSD) to discuss current and emerging regional and global issues.
The TSD Ministerial meeting was held on the margins of the Asia-Pacific Economic Forum (APEC) Ministerial meeting.
The three ministers affirmed their commitment to the TSD process as it allows for a timely exchange of views on the regional strategic environment.
The ministers discussed ways in which all three countries could collaborate and contribute to regional stability and sustained economic prosperity.
Ministers welcomed UN Security Council resolution 2118 and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons Executive Council Decision [EC-M-33/DEC.1] on the destruction of Syria's chemical weapons and called for the early convening of the Geneva II conference on political transition, as well as for improved humanitarian access and support as reflected in the 2 October UN Security Council Presidential Statement on Syria.
Ministers reiterated their concern regarding the Iranian nuclear program, welcomed the announcement of the next round of talks between the E3+3 and Iran in Geneva on October 15-16, and encouraged Iran to engage substantively with the E3+3 in the new round of talks, and adhere to the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council and the IAEA Board of Governors.
Ministers expressed deep concern at North Korea's continued development of its nuclear and missile programs and proliferation activities. They called on North Korea to comply with UN Security Resolutions 1718, 1874, 2087, and 2094.
The ministers also called on North Korea to adhere to the September 19, 2005 Joint Statement by taking concrete and irreversible steps to abandon its nuclear weapons and all existing nuclear programs in a complete and verifiable manner. They also expressed deep concern at North Korea's deplorable human rights record, including the abductions issue.
Ministers opposed any coercive or unilateral actions that could change the status quo in the East China Sea. They underlined the importance of efforts to reduce tensions and to avoid miscalculations or accidents in the East China Sea, including by improving marine communications.
The ministers affirmed the importance of peace and stability, respect for international law, unimpeded trade and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. They called on claimants to refrain from actions that could increase tensions, to clarify and pursue claims in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and for ASEAN and China to agree on a meaningful Code of Conduct.
The ministers recognized that the East Asia Summit, ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus, ASEAN Regional Forum and APEC are key fora to strengthen regional security and economic integration.
The ministers recognized the value of the TSD mechanism and reaffirmed their shared commitment to address security challenges of mutual interest in the Indian Ocean Asia-Pacific region.