Japan PM Ishiba stresses continuity to Asean after ‘Asian Nato’ proposal stokes anxiety

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has reassured Asean of continuity in Japan’s foreign policy on his diplomatic debut just nine days after assuming office. Assoc Prof Kei Koga at Singapore’s NTU saw Mr Ishiba’s priority at his first foreign engagement as one of “reassurance that Japan would not disrupt the current strategic environment”. But given that Mr Ishiba has not entirely slammed the door on the idea, Dr Koga said that Mr Ishiba “does not consider ‘Asian Nato’ as a short-term objective”.

Click here to read article.