Japan and Vietnam are strengthening their ties as both countries feel increasingly threatened by Chinese aggression in the region. Japan has been particularly anxious about the threat posed by China and it has worked to extend defensive cooperation agreements to other nations which might be wary about any Chinese attempts to expand its sphere of influence at the expense of its neighbors. China has been evidently hoping to intimidate Pacific nations in recent months.
Japan strengthens regional alliances
The agreement between Japan and Vietnam specifies a particular focus on cyber security, intended to counter a trend of Chinese cyber attacks.
The Japanese have assembled a number of friendly nations to join in defense and technology sharing agreements with the aim of strengthening both cyber security and physical security.
Vietnam is the 11th nation to sign such an agreement with Tokyo, which hopes to both support its defense industry and bolster opposition to China by giving Vietnam access to its military developments.
Japan has relied very heavily on protection from the United States in the decades since the Second World War but the island nation is now increasingly working to cement other friendships abroad.
There seems to be a significant decline in confidence in the ability of the US to provide a strong enough deterrent to Chinese aggression. China certainly feels that it has less to fear from the United States at the moment.
Beijing has sent provocative flights of military aircraft into both Taiwanese and Japanese airspaces, seemingly threatening two countries which depend heavily on American support.
Nation may be forced to finally remilitarize
Japan says that it is committed to building a strong network of cooperation between “like-minded countries” to create a new bulwark against Chinese expansionism.
The agreement with Vietnam may include a transfer of naval vessels and other military equipment from Tokyo to Hanoi. The cyber security cooperation is also extending to Singapore and Indonesia.
The most important step for Japan would be a reestablishment of its own armed forces. The nation has technically not had the ability to use military force abroad due to a clause in the constitution imposed by occupying US forces.
The irony of that clause is that the US, which imposed it in the first place, would now prefer that it be revoked so that a stronger military counterweight to China can exist in the region. The Japanese themselves have been somewhat reluctant to get rid of the clause.
The Japanese self-defense forces are fairly powerful and well funded but they remain officially handicapped by their constitution, which keeps them in a passive role.
Tokyo has been compensating by strengthening regional alliances as American influence wanes but if the nation truly wants to lead an anti-China network it will eventually be forced to revive its military potential.
