Japan PM Touts Indo-Pacific in Vietnam

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi visited Vietnam to promote a 'free and open Indo-Pacific' strategy, a regional initiative aimed at curbing China's influence. During her visit, Sanae Takaichi delivered a speech at a Hanoi university, emphasizing the importance of resilience and self-determination for Asian countries in an era of geopolitical competition and technological innovation. Japan and Vietnam, sharing concerns about China's territorial claims, agreed to advance their strategic partnership and deepen cooperation on energy security, supply chain resilience, technology, climate preparedness, and information and communication, signing six agreements. Sanae Takaichi also warned against 'excessive dependence on a single country for critical goods,' a veiled reference to China. This visit highlights Japan's efforts to strengthen ties with regional partners like Vietnam and the Philippines, while navigating frosty relations with China, which has criticized the 'free and open Indo-Pacific' initiative as an attempt to promote bloc confrontation.