Japan and Vietnam agree to bolster defence, economic ties, East Asia

Japan and Vietnam agreed to boost their defence and economic cooperation yesterday, including through the export of military equipment, with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga in Hanoi on his first foreign trip since taking office last month. His priority was to cement the backing of the 10-member Asean, which is chaired by Vietnam this year, for the Free and Open Indo-Pacific vision amid China’s assertiveness. While critics have said the initiative lacks substance, Japan and its counterparts have sought to add more teeth to the vision, including through such means as the Quad group, comprising Japan, the United States, India…