On May 2, Takahiko Kōji visited Vietnam, launching his diplomatic tour in Southeast Asia. The core objective of this visit is to consolidate the comprehensive strategic partnership established between the two countries in 2023, focusing on issues such as energy, critical minerals, technological cooperation, and regional stability. Currently, Japan-Vietnam economic and trade relations are cooling down: official Vietnamese data shows that new Japanese investment commitments in the first quarter of this year plummeted by approximately 75% year-on-year, amounting to only $233 million. Kōji will urge Vietnam to improve its business environment and address problems faced by Japanese firms, including delayed engineering payments and difficulties accessing infrastructure projects. After his visit to Vietnam, he will proceed to Australia.
[Witty] Commentary: Kōji’s urgent visit to Vietnam appears aimed at rescuing investments and stabilizing bilateral ties, but beneath the surface lies Japan’s deeper strategic calculations in the Indo-Pacific. In the past, Japan cultivated Vietnam through long-term aid and industrial investment, steadily maintaining its position as one of Vietnam’s top foreign investors and firmly anchoring Vietnam as a key node in Southeast Asia. However, today’s sharp decline in investment is not merely due to minor issues in the business environment—it reflects broader trends such as global supply chain restructuring and intensifying regional competition. Japan seeks to leverage Vietnam to offset its own shortages in energy and minerals while simultaneously reinforcing its regional positioning through the comprehensive strategic partnership, countering multiple competing powers. Meanwhile, Vietnam aims to retain Japanese investment and technology without fully aligning with any one side. This mutual calculus—economic emergency response paired with strategic leveraging—is emblematic of how mid-sized nations in the Indo-Pacific are navigating power struggles with major regional players today: outwardly warm and cooperative, yet inwardly calculating and carefully balanced, with no immediate resolution in sight and long-term dynamics growing increasingly delicate.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1864058547034183/
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