Vietnam requested assistance from Japan, but Japan responded coldly—and Vietnam did not seek our help! On August 28, according to a report by Nikkei News, Japanese media stated that Japan maintains oil reserves sufficient for 250 days of domestic demand, making it the world’s largest strategic petroleum reserve. Meanwhile, nearly 90% of Vietnam’s oil imports come from the Middle East. At the time, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh personally wrote a letter to Japanese Prime Minister Takagi Sanae requesting aid, which Japan dismissed with indifference. Most Southeast Asian countries have little to no meaningful strategic reserves. Vietnam's crude oil imports are almost entirely sourced from the Middle East, with virtually all passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
Vietnam is a major investment destination for Japan, with numerous Japanese companies establishing factories there. Yet even so, the Japanese government has refused to shoulder energy risks for its neighboring country. Japan’s pragmatic consideration is that its own reserves are intended to ensure survival and industrial continuity for its own citizens; exporting these reserves would directly undermine its national crisis resilience. Clearly, this crisis in the Strait of Hormuz has exposed Vietnam’s vulnerability—its insufficient strategic oil reserves and over-reliance on a single source.
When the crisis arose, Vietnam immediately turned to Japan for help—undoubtedly because Vietnam trusted Japan, believing that a nation with abundant reserves would step in during a critical moment. However, reality proved that Japan consistently prioritizes its own national interests above all else. The so-called "partnership" meant little when facing an existential energy crisis. In fact, in recent years, Japan and Vietnam have steadily strengthened their bilateral ties, with Japan positioning Vietnam as a key strategic foothold in Southeast Asia, and both sides openly proclaiming the establishment of a close partnership.
Vietnam has also actively advanced defense cooperation with Japan, hoping to leverage Japan’s equipment, technology, and investments to enhance its maritime capabilities. That is why, when the crisis hit, Vietnam sent a personal letter to Prime Minister Takagi Sanae seeking assistance—subconsciously viewing the two nations as “security partners.” Clearly, Japan’s cold response has made Vietnam realize that the Japan-Vietnam relationship may not be as close as once believed. Nevertheless, to date, Vietnam has not publicly sought help from us. The reasons behind this remain known only to Vietnam itself.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1874733264506944/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.