Japan Vietnam vow to boost security, economic ties amid growing threat from China

As China’s influence in the region grows, Japan and Vietnam have decided to fortify their security and trade relations. In their Monday meeting in Tokyo, Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida decided to expand their security cooperation, work on defense equipment and technology transfers, and begin talking about a new Japanese aid program for the militaries of like-minded developing nations in the area. According to their joint statement, which was made available by Japan’s Foreign Ministry, the two leaders declared that the relationship between their countries would develop into a “comprehensive strategic partnership” and that they would “further expand it to new fronts and new heights” their ongoing cooperation. Japan has been rapidly developing closer ties with Vietnam, a key southeast Asian nation that has important security and economic roles in the region faced with China’s rise and rivalry with the United States and other Western nations. Monday’s announcement meant that Japan has now gained the status of Vietnam’s top-tier partners, along with the US, China and India. At a joint news conference after their meeting, Kishida said Vietnam is “a key partner in achieving a free and open Indo-Pacific”. Thuong said that close cooperation between the two countries contributes to the region’s peace and prosperity. Under its Official Security Assistance scheme, Japan recently agreed to provide a coastal surveillance radar to the Philippines, another strategically important Southeast Asian country for Japan and the US amid escalating tensions over Taiwan, which Beijing regards the island as a breakaway province to be brought under mainland control – by force, if necessary. Many countries, including the US, do not officially recognise Taiwan as an independent state but oppose the use of force to change the status quo. Kishida’s government in December adopted a new security strategy, involving significant military build-up, including counterstrike capability in a major shift from the country’s post-war principle of solely relying self-defence. Japan in recent years has also provided a number of patrol vessels to Vietnam to help strengthen its law enforcement capability at sea. Vietnam is one of several countries defending their territorial interests against China in the disputed South China Sea. Japan has had a long-standing territorial dispute with China over islands in the East China Sea. Kishida and Thuong agreed to expand their cooperation in wide range of areas from trade, climate change and economy to achieve a “free and open Indo-Pacific”. Thoung, who is on a four-day visit as a rare state guest marking the two countries’ 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties, was also to visit the Imperial Palace for a meeting and lunch hosted by Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako. In addition, he was set to give a speech at the Lower House, the more powerful of Japan’s two parliamentary chambers, and visit a hydrogen energy facility in Fukuoka in southern Japan. (With inputs from The Associated Press)