Tokyo, Oct. 29 -- Japanese Minister of National Defence Koizumi Shinjiro on October 28 urged ASEAN member states to increase solidarity and coordinate against fast-moving regional security threats, warning that a shifting military balance is raising the risk of miscalculation.

Addressing the ASEAN-Japan Defence Ministers' Informal Meeting in Cebu, the Philippines, attended by representatives of all 11 ASEAN members, Koizumi said the regional security environment is growing more complex, citing rising pressure on vulnerable states, natural disasters and conflicts worldwide.

He said members must bridge differences to tackle shared challenges and proposed expanding Japan-ASEAN cooperation with outside partners into AI, unmanned systems and...