The Chinese regime is aggressively expanding its military presence in the Taiwan Strait, the South China Sea, and the East China Sea, in an attempt to reshape regional geopolitics through its military might.
During Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong’s state visit to Japan from Nov. 27 to 30, he met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and monarch Naruhito and addressed the Japanese Diet, where both leaders pledged to enhance their bilateral relationship and collaborate on security issues as an effort to counter the rising threat posed by the Chinese regime to the Asia-Pacific region.
The collaboration between Japan and Vietnam also extended to economic cooperation, with Japan recognizing Vietnam as a critical supply chain hub and promising investment destination, seeking to work together to revitalize the regional economy in pursuit of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific region” (FOIP).
Furthermore, the two countries discussed the implementation of the Japanese government’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) and Japan’s commitment to advancing the export of defense equipment to Vietnam to boost its defense capabilities.
Vietnam’s relationship with Japan was established as “sincere friends and reliable partners,” and both countries saw an increase in Japanese investment in Vietnam, marking Vietnam as an important stronghold for Japan.
Vietnam’s security challenges in the South China Sea have pushed the country to seek strategic partnerships with the United States and Japan, with Japan’s “Sustainable Ocean Alliance” outlining its purpose of preventing unilateral changes to the status quo by force and ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
Vietnam and the Philippines form a critical surveillance and control point for vessels passing through the Strait of Malacca and have territorial disputes with China, leading to strengthened ties with the United States and Japan in an effort to isolate and contain China’s influence.
As a result, the regional geopolitics have elevated bilateral relations between the United States and Vietnam to another “comprehensive strategic partnership,” with Vietnam emerging as a crucial stronghold for both the United States and Japan in their efforts to counter the aggressive military expansion of the Chinese regime in the region.