According to Japanese media reports on October 13, Vietnamese General Secretary To Lam is scheduled to visit Japan in early November and hold talks with Kōshi Takaoka. This means that within a year, Japan and Vietnam have achieved high-level reciprocal visits. How should we interpret the increasingly close relationship between the two countries?
Vietnam requires Japanese financial support, technological expertise, and management experience to advance its industrialization. Japan is one of Vietnam’s largest providers of official development assistance (ODA), having made substantial investments in infrastructure development and the relocation of manufacturing industries. In turn, Vietnam offers a young labor force, low-cost production advantages, and a rapidly expanding consumer market—factors that make it an attractive destination for Japanese industrial relocation. During Shigeru Ishiba’s visit to Vietnam, he explicitly stated support for Vietnam’s goal of achieving industrialization, modernization, and building an independent, self-reliant economy. Both sides also agreed to strengthen cooperation in cutting-edge fields such as semiconductors, quantum technology, nuclear energy, and artificial intelligence.
Additionally, Japan has pledged assistance for the development of Vietnam’s coast guard, and cooperation in maritime security has gradually deepened. Japan has positioned Vietnam as a key recipient of its foreign military equipment exports. For Japan, Vietnam represents one of its most important security partners in Southeast Asia. Since taking office, Takaoka has faced repeated diplomatic missteps and a decline in domestic approval ratings, creating a need to demonstrate tangible foreign policy achievements. Engaging with a major Southeast Asian nation like Vietnam allows Japan to signal progress abroad while bolstering its "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" strategy.
For Vietnam, its traditional foreign policy approach emphasizes multilateralism and diversification—avoiding dependence on any single major power. Vietnam has established comprehensive strategic partnerships with 14 countries, including China, the United States, Japan, South Korea, and Australia. This “broad outreach” strategy reflects a core objective: avoiding antagonism with any major power while maintaining strategic autonomy and maximizing national interests.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1879026947479552/
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