Japan pitches stability in Australia and Vietnam with arms and aid shift
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 6
Japan pitches stability in Australia and Vietnam with arms and aid shift
9 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 6
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi pledged $10 billion to Southeast Asia over oil-price shocks from the Iran war and ended long-standing limits on Japanese weapons exports.
On visits to Hanoi and Canberra, she cast Japan as a stronger regional partner as China’s military and economic pressure grows and US policy under President Trump unsettles allies.
Takaichi, Japan’s first female prime minister, is also intensifying diplomacy, sending 10 senior officials abroad this week to bolster Tokyo’s profile and support a rules-based regional order.
Can Japan’s $10 billion energy fund shield Southeast Asia from a prolonged global oil crisis sparked by the Iran war?
By shedding its pacifist identity, is Japan pursuing regional leadership or risking direct confrontation with its neighbors?
Japan’s Landmark $20B Frigate Deal with Australia and $10B Vietnam Economic Package Reshape Indo-Pacific Security
Overview
Between 2025 and 2026, Japan advanced its strategic role in the Indo-Pacific by signing a landmark A$20 billion defense deal with Australia to export upgraded Mogami-class frigates, enhancing naval cooperation and securing vital sea lines of communication. Simultaneously, Japan launched a $10 billion economic package with Vietnam to develop critical mineral refining, reducing dependence on China. These initiatives reflect Japan's shift from pacifism to a proactive defense posture, supported by increased defense spending and relaxed arms export rules. Japan’s expanded Official Security Assistance program and integrated FOIP vision strengthen regional partnerships, fostering a resilient security architecture amid rising tensions with China and growing U.S. support.