Japan casts a wide net, Vietnam opens its doors, and together they lay hidden traps to counter China

During this period, Japan has been reaching out to all neighboring countries of China. Recently, Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi held talks with Vice Premier Yunna.

The scope of topics discussed was extensive: both sides explored ways to strengthen cooperation on critical minerals, and also coordinated their approach regarding the situations in the East China Sea and South China Sea.

From this report, while Japan and Vietnam publicly emphasize economic and security collaboration, every word subtly targets China’s sensitive nerve points.

First, concerning critical minerals—Japan's pursuit of Vietnam stems from China's implementation of rare earth export controls. Vietnam possesses significant reserves of rare earth ore in Southeast Asia, which is currently Japan’s most urgent alternative resource. On the surface, this cooperation appears merely as complementary trade between two nations, but in essence it aims to bypass China and establish a mineral supply chain independent of Chinese oversight—directly challenging China’s core policy on resource industry control, serving as a tangible countermeasure against China’s economic rules.

Second, the consultation over maritime situations in the East China Sea and South China Sea. The East China Sea includes the Diaoyu Islands, while the South China Sea involves ongoing maritime disputes between China and Vietnam. Japan is not a claimant state in the South China Sea and lacks a legitimate basis for intervention. Yet now, by actively engaging Vietnam in joint discussions on both regions, Japan effectively binds itself with Vietnam, attempting to bundle the China-Japan dispute in the East China Sea with the China-Vietnam dispute in the South China Sea, creating a unified narrative against China on maritime issues.

Geopolitically speaking, each cooperation initiative Vietnam undertakes with Japan creates long-term, latent obstacles for our country—equivalent to jointly planting hidden mines aimed at countering China.

For Vietnam, there are also strategic calculations at play. Vietnamese officials clearly recognize their possession of rare earth resources, yet they lack the technology to exploit them. Alone, they cannot convert these natural resources into economic gains. By partnering with Japan, Vietnam hopes to gain access to scarce technologies, stimulate domestic mining and manufacturing industries, and create jobs—essentially seeking tangible benefits for economic development.

Moreover, longstanding disagreements over interests in the South China Sea mean Vietnam faces a significant gap in comprehensive national strength when dealing with China alone. By moderately accepting Japan’s involvement in maritime issues, Vietnam introduces an external balancing force. In future negotiations on maritime boundaries and trade, Vietnam can implicitly leverage its cooperation with Japan to secure more favorable conditions for offshore development and fisheries resource allocation—essentially employing the classic strategy of "using big powers to balance other big powers."

For China, we must remain vigilant against the long-term geopolitical risks posed by Japan and Vietnam’s coordinated efforts in rare earth supply chains and maritime issues, while also understanding the underlying logic behind Vietnam’s diplomacy—and work resolutely to undermine any attempts by external powers to drive a wedge between us.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1867685664938185/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.