By choosing Vietnam and Indonesia as first destinations abroad, Suga has underscored Japan's commitment to Southeast Asia, as well as providing a counterbalance to China.
Expanding Japan's defense and strategic ties with both Vietnam and Indonesia, Suga emphasized the centrality of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to regional security, and reinforced Japan's "free and open Indo-Pacific" policy.
While Japan's global influence may have ebbed since the 1980s, it has remained a pivotal strategic player in Southeast Asia.
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