In celebration of Timor-Leste’s formal accession to the ASEAN in 2025 and in view of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Timor-Leste in 2027, I am pleased to contribute an article to TATOLI as the Ambassador of Japan to Timor-Leste and share with our Timorese friends the history of our bilateral relations and visions for the future.
Japan’s postwar diplomacy as a peace-loving nation
From the end of the WWII when Japan was in total ruins through the present day, Japan has consistently followed the path of a peace-loving nation based on its pledge never to wage a war again and committing to peace. The people of Japan were determined, believing in freedom, democracy, respect for basic human rights, and the rule of law. Since then, Japan has always given priority to acting together with the international community and prospering with other countries and rebuilt the nation through international cooperation. Japan joined the United Nations in 1956 to make active contributions to the international community and to this day, Japan champions the principles of the UN and leads the international community in various fields.
Japan’s support for Timor-Leste’s restoration of independence
Recognizing the stability and development of Timor-Leste are of critical importance to the peace and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region, Japan has worked alongside the international community to promote the consolidation of peace and nation-building in Timor-Leste through various means.
Since 1999, the Government of Japan has provided support for peacebuilding in Timor-Leste. Japan supported UN activities leading up to the referendum held in August of that year and subsequently promoted a UN Security Council resolution authorizing the dispatch of INTERFET to maintain public order. Japan also contributed $100 million to a UN fund to enable troops from developing countries to participate in INTERFET.
In December 1999, at the First Conference on Assistance to Timor-Leste held in Tokyo, Japan pledged a total of $130 million in assistance. Furthermore, following Timor-Leste’s restoration of independence in May 2002, Japan pledged up to $60 million in assistance at the Sixth Conference on Assistance to Timor-Leste held in Dili.
ASEAN-Japan relations
The year 2023 marked the 50th commemorative year of ASEAN-Japan relations. Since 1973, ASEAN-Japan relations have made remarkable progress, in which Japan made every effort to build up “heart to heart” relations of mutual confidence and trust with ASEAN member states and committed itself as an equal partner to building peace and prosperity in the region. Spanning half a century, the cooperation has been strengthened across a wide range of fields, including the economy, security, and culture.
Japan’s cooperation for Timor-Leste’s ASEAN accession
Since 2009, Japan has walked alongside Timor-Leste on its path toward ASEAN membership. This cooperation rests on two pillars: Japan’s long-standing partnership with ASEAN and the fundamental values shared by Japan and Timor-Leste. Through institutions such as JICA and the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF), Japan has implemented a range of projects to support Timor-Leste’s smooth accession to ASEAN. Japan’s approach is comprehensive, combining institutional development, capacity building, and infrastructure support. Japan will continue to work closely with Timor-Leste to support its integration into the ASEAN Community
Japan’s Official Development Assistance and its local initiatives in Timor-Leste
Japan’s cooperation has evolved from emergency humanitarian assistance into a comprehensive partnership. Japan’s cumulative ODA to Timor-Leste totaled over USD 505 million, reaffirming Japan’s position as one of Timor-Leste’s most steadfast development partners.
Since 1999, the Government of Japan has been supporting Timor-Leste’s nation building and development in various sectors across Timor-Leste including education, health, agriculture, vocational training and infrastructure. Step by step, through co-creation, the peoples of Japan and Timor-Leste have together advanced inclusive and sustainable development.
Launched in 2002, the Grant Assistance for Japanese NGO Projects scheme has provided funding from the Government of Japan to Japanese NGOs, which implement projects in collaboration with local partners, emphasizing community participation and capacity development, combining infrastructure support to address local challenges. A broad range of organizations engaged in projects across numerous sectors for infrastructure development, unexploded ordnance disposal, and livelihood improvement.
The Grassroots Human Security Projects is a scheme through which the Government of Japan, based on the philosophy of human security, provides funding to local NGOs implementing relatively small-scale infrastructure projects that are rooted in the daily lives of residents. Since 2000, the scheme has covered all municipalities in Timor Leste, implementing 148 projects.
JICA started the JOCV program in Timor-Leste in 2010 with a dispatch of short-term volunteers followed by volunteers with a regular two year assignment since 2011. Under their slogan of “together with the local community”, as of April 2026, 172 volunteers have been dispatched to Timor-Leste, and currently more than 30 JOCVs are engaged in various activities.
The Updated Free and Open Indo-Pacific – to be more resilient and prosperous together
On May 2, Prime Minister TAKAICHI Sanae delivered a foreign policy speech, whereby updated the Free and Open Indo Pacific (FOIP), which marks its 10th anniversary this year. Amid an increasingly severe international environment, it is essential for countries in the Indo-Pacific to enhance their capacity for self-reliance and resilience across economic, social, and security domains, so that they can determine their own future while recognizing the complexities of interdependence.
Japan will advance these efforts by working closely with the partner countries, including Timor-Leste, to provide the cooperation tailored to their needs and continue to fulfill its responsibilities in building an international order based on “freedom”, “openness”, “diversity”, “inclusiveness”, and “the rule of law” in the Indo-Pacific region – the key to the peace and stability of the international community.
The two lands of the rising sun
For over 25 years, Japan has been honored to call Timor-Leste a partner and a dear friend. Japan looks forward to continueing walking and working together with Timor-Leste as it charts its course toward sustainable growth and a prosperous future for all its people.
YAMAMOTO Yasushi
Ambassador of Japan to Timor-Leste
