ARTICLES

19 Apr 2024

Japan and Southeast Asia Set to Co-Create an Interwoven Future

Hoang Thi Ha|Pham Thi Phuong Thao

Japan’s decades of cultivating relations with Southeast Asia have not only strengthened their diplomatic and economic ties but also deepened interpersonal and societal interactions, ultimately shifting postwar animosity towards Japan into a prevailing positive sentiment today.

16 Apr 2024

Analysing Prabowo Subianto’s Visits to China, Japan, and Malaysia

Leo Suryadinata|Siwage Dharma Negara

A defence minister’s courtesy calls take on a different significance, albeit only slightly, when he will take over as Indonesia’s president in a matter of months.

China Indonesia Indonesia Foreign Policy Japan Malaysia

5 Apr 2024

The State of Southeast Asia Survey

Uncovering ASEAN Private Sector Sentiments on Their Choice of Strategic Economic Partner

Kristina Fong Siew Leng

A deep dive into private sector sentiments can yield some insight into ASEAN’s preferred economic partner of choice.

ASEAN China China-U.S. Relations E.U. Japan State of Southeast Asia Survey U.S.

29 Feb 2024

Cambodia and Japan: Firm Friends Amid Great Power Rivalry

Chhay Lim

Cambodia and Japan have elevated their bilateral ties. But this is not without challenges, given different positions in the ensuing Sino-U.S. rivalry.

Cambodia China Japan

21 Feb 2024

The Potential and Prerequisites for ASEAN-Japan Cross-Border Digital Payments

Bryan Tan Jia Yang|Katrina Navallo

Bryan Tan Jia Yang and Katrina Navallo explore possibilities for a cross-border digital payment arrangement between ASEAN and Japan.

ASEAN ASEANFocus Digitalisation Japan

15 Feb 2024

Japan’s Arms Transfers to Southeast Asia: Upping the Ante?

William Choong

Japan's new Official Security Assistance scheme would help arm regional countries in the face of growing Chinese assertiveness. A lesser-known aspect of OSA might actually bring some serious military capabilities to the region in the future.

ASEAN Japan Japan-Southeast Asia Relations Philippine

19 Dec 2023

ASEAN-Japan Relations at 50: Taking a Harder Edge

William Choong|Joanne Lin

With five decades of cooperation with ASEAN under its belt, Japan has the chance to now play a stronger role as balancer instead of passive price-taker in a region awash with anxiety over great power rivalry.

ASEAN Japan

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (R) shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida after their joint statement at the Malacanang presidential palace in Manila on November 3, 2023. Japan and the Philippines said November 3 they will start negotiations for a defence pact that would allow the countries to deploy troops on each other's territory. (Photo by Aaron Favila / POOL / AFP)

16 Nov 2023

The Philippines-Japan Security Relationship: A New Golden Age?

Aries A. Arugay|Mico A Galang

While Japanese PM Kishida’s recent visit to Manila points to the upward momentum of the Japan-Philippines Strategic Partnership, it will also be a litmus test of Japan’s strategic goals in the rest of Southeast Asia.

Japan Japan-Southeast Asia Relations Philippine

18 Oct 2023

The Courteous Charmer: A Hard Look at Japan’s Soft Power in Southeast Asia

Indira Zahra Aridati

Indira Zahra Aridati examines the rise of Japanese soft power across Southeast Asia and its many facets.

ASEAN ASEANFocus Japan Japan-Southeast Asia Relations

6 Oct 2023

A New Chapter in ASEAN-Japan Relations

Kunihiko Hirabayashi

ASEANFocus is privileged to feature the Secretary-General of the ASEAN-Japan Centre, Dr Kunihiko Hirabayashi. He provides a perspective on the ASEAN-Japan relationship after 50 years, and how Japan intends to substantiate the new Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with ASEAN.

ASEAN ASEANFocus Japan