The Prime Minister of Japan wants a free and open Asia

Mme Takaichi has reiterated her “determination to assume Japan’s responsibilities and, in truth, to play an even more active role than ever in the construction of an international order based on freedom, openness, diversity, inclusivity, and the rule of law” during a speech to students in Hanoi.

In a context of “intensified geopolitical competition” and “accelerated technological innovation”, the Japanese government leader urged Asian countries to strengthen their “resilience” and their ability to “determine their own future”.

Both countries are concerned about Beijing’s territorial claims in the South China Sea and seek to mitigate the consequences of US trade policies by expanding their economic and security ties.

However, Hanoi aims to maintain good relations with all major global powers through its traditional “bamboo diplomacy” approach, while Tokyo has seen its icy relations with Beijing significantly deteriorate in recent months.

First mentioned a decade ago by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, mentor of Ms. Sanae Takaichi, the idea of a “free and open” Indo-Pacific region has since been embraced by many partners and allies of the United States seeking to contain China’s influence in the region.

Beijing has denounced this initiative as a thinly veiled attempt to promote a confrontation between blocs, with the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian accusing Tokyo of “reviving the camp confrontation”.

In her speech, Ms. Takaichi, without directly naming Beijing, cautioned against “excessive dependence on a single country for essential goods”, stating that this often results from “abnormally low prices” and calling for “fair competitive conditions”.

She also emphasized the importance of open sea lanes, stating that “regional supply chains depend on secure and free navigation at sea”.

During her first visit to Vietnam, the Prime Minister signed agreements aimed at strengthening cooperation in security, energy resilience, supply chain resilience, and innovation.

The two countries agreed to work more closely on “economic security, including (in the sector of) energy, important mineral resources, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and space”, stated Ms. Takaichi after meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung.

Japan is the main provider of official development assistance to this Southeast Asian country as well as a crucial investor and trading partner.

Last year, bilateral trade exceeded $50 billion for the first time.

The two countries also have a strategic partnership that they agreed on Saturday to enter a “new phase of development,” said Mr. Hung following the meeting.

He specified that six agreements covering technology, climate change preparedness, information, and communication were signed.

The two leaders also “reaffirmed the importance of resolving disputes in the South China Sea through peaceful means, based on international law,” he added.

Last November, Sanae Takaichi, whose country hosts 60,000 American soldiers, suggested that Tokyo could intervene militarily if China attacked Taiwan, triggering a furious response from Beijing, which saw it as an attack on its sovereignty.