Japan’s security presence in Asean now ‘routine’ amid fear of China gaining sway

Japan believes it is in its interest to fill the vacuum, taking a calibrated approach that draws the line at making Asean countries pick sides. Since taking office in October 2024, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has visited five out of 10 Asean member states - Laos, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. "Japan's diplomatic posture towards the region emphasises empowerment rather than coercion," Dr Kei Koga from Singapore's NTU told The Straits Times. This, he said, gives Japan a wealth of goodwill as it seeks to build a broad base of friends and partners that can "diplomatically counter potential disruptive actions by challengers to the existing international order, particularly China".

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