{"id":53986,"date":"2020-10-19T14:19:38","date_gmt":"2020-10-19T14:19:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2020\/10\/19\/japan-to-export-defense-tech-to-vietnam-under-new-agreement\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T23:57:33","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T23:57:33","slug":"japan-to-export-defense-tech-to-vietnam-under-new-agreement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/global\/asia-pacific\/2020\/10\/19\/japan-to-export-defense-tech-to-vietnam-under-new-agreement\/","title":{"rendered":"Japan to export defense tech to Vietnam under new agreement"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

HANOI, Vietnam \u2014 Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, in his first overseas summit since taking office last month, agreed with his Vietnamese counterpart to step up defense and security cooperation in the face of China\u2019s expanding influence in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In talks in Hanoi on Monday, Suga and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc set a basic agreement allowing Japan to export defense equipment and technology to Vietnam. Japan has been pursuing such pacts in recent years to bolster ties with Southeast Asian countries<\/a> and sustain its own defense industry<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suga said his four-day trip to Vietnam and later Indonesia was key to pursuing multilateral economic and security cooperation to counter China\u2019s growing power<\/a> and protect sea lanes in disputed areas of the South China Sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cVietnam is crucial to achieving our vision of \u2018the Free and Open Indo-Pacific,\u2019 and our valuable partner,’ \u201d Suga told a news conference after his meeting with Phuc. \u201cJapan, as an Indo-Pacific nation, will continue to contribute to the peace and stability in this region.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suga said Vietnam, at the center of the region, was the most suitable destination for his first trip abroad as Japan\u2019s leader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neither of the two leaders mentioned China by name in their news conference. Phuc said the peace and stability of the South China Sea should be protected by the rule of law, not unilaterally by force or threats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cVietnam appreciates that Japan, one of the world\u2019s leading powers, is actively contributing its efforts to maintain peace and stability in the region and in the world,\u201d Phuc said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a speech later Monday at Vietnam-Japan University, Suga said that Japan\u2019s \u201cFree and Open Indo-Pacific\u201d concept and \u201cASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific,\u201d formulated by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in 2019, share values such as rule of law, openness, transparency and freedom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suga expressed strong support for their vision, and said together Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations can achieve a peaceful and prosperous future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUnfortunately in this region, there is a move in the South China Sea that goes against the rule of law and openness stated in this ASEAN Outlook, and Japan strongly opposes any attempt that escalates tensions in the South China Sea,\u201d Suga said in his speech, hinting at China\u2019s growing assertiveness in the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Japan already has defense equipment transfer deals with the U.S., Britain and Malaysia, among other countries. Vietnam is a 12th partner, while Japan is still negotiating deals with Indonesia and Thailand. In its first actual delivery of such exports, Japan in August exported a radar surveillance system to the Philippines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Details of possible equipment sales were not mentioned, but Suga called the agreement \u201ca major step\u201d for a bilateral defense cooperation, saying he expects further developments.<\/p>\n\n\n\t