Japan, Vietnam to strengthen security and economic ties

 Vietnam is “a key partner in achieving a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

Also not free but cheap labor to Japan

https://en.baochinhphu.vn/japan-employs-largest-number-of-vietnamese-workers-111230831155430242.htm

AureliusToday 07:12 am JST

“free and open Indo-Pacific.”

And how will that be accomplished realistically ?

The South China Sea and Taiwan Straight are kept free of Chinese blockades.

Great news. Two like-minded nations working together. Vietnam aspires to one day rise to Japan's level of development.

Vietnam will play their part - alongside Japan and other freedom-loving nations - in maintaining Freedom of the Seas - something China opposes.

Also not free but cheap labor to Japan

That is absolutely not what the Japan-Vietnam relationship is based on.

Gotta ensure a steady supply of that slave labour! Sorry, I mean specialist technical trainees.

Congratulations to Japan for attaining the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership status with Vietnam which China has enjoyed since 2008. Welcome to the club.

Gotta ensure a steady supply of that slave labour! Sorry, I mean specialist technical trainees.

Don't worry, they won't bring crow killers, your job is secured..

LOL

Oh poor Japan, you are at the same level as third world countries when you like cozying with Vietnam and the Philippines!

Just a week ago, I happened to arrive at KIX when a flight from Vietnam was also arriving.

The vast majority of passengers seemed to be groups of Vietnamese that had QR codes to clear customs already downloaded into their phones and were promptly exiting through electronic gates.

West Kobe is home to ever increasing numbers of SE Asians and Vietnamese are a group which is more noticeable.

I have noticed Vietnamese working in convenience stores,restaurants and stores opening up offering food and miscellaneous goods from Vietnam.

Labor is one Vietnamese resource that Japan is ready to exploit.

“free and open Indo-Pacific.”

And how will that be accomplished realistically ?

By containing China's aims of expanding through military bullying and use of force.

Oh poor Japan, you are at the same level as third world countries when you like cozying with Vietnam and the Philippines!

China is still a "developing country" and has not yet achieved "developed" status because so many remain poor and left behind. So the reality is that China is a third world nation, like it or not. Such a pity it spends so much money and effort building their military rather than building up their people.

More nations in the region are developing bilateral relationships with many other countries in the region to contain Chinese aggression and illegal ambitions. With very good reason. China is regarded more and more as an enemy rather than a partner by increasing numbers of countries neighboring China, and those further away. They cant all be wrong. The proof continues to be reinforced by China itself that it is a danger to all others through its hostile activities and actions.

Vietnam is getting closer to the US, Japan and others thanks to China. It is all China's fault.

Foreign worker issues notwithstanding, Japan strengthening ties with Vietnam is absolutely a move that makes sense from an economic perspective.

Vietnam has demonstrated superb GDP growth in recent decades. I believe their economy has grown some sixty-fold in the past twenty years or so. There are echoes of Japan's massive growth between the 60s and 80s, or China's prior to Covid. This is a great time for Japan to make investments in the developing country, as returns are all but guaranteed. While Vietnam's status is still a far cry from some of the other East Asian giants, it's likely that it won't take very long before they are knocking on the doors of the one-trillion+ GDP club.

Now... from a military partnership standpoint, I think we should have tempered expectations.

Vietnam is out for Vietnam's best interests, as they should be. As far as it comes to China, they don't want China to hinder or suppress them, that's for sure. But it's hard to say whether Vietnam feels they have a lot of skin in the game as far as Taiwan is concerned. Moreover, in the case of a war, it is very hard for me to imagine Vietnam directly aligning itself with the US. Relations have improved, but they likely have not forgotten what we did to their country, seeing as how the effects of agent orange and scattered landmines still negatively affect them to this day.

Hopefully the Japanese can make a good sales pitch, though - that the dream of wealth and economic prosperity is within their grasp, but China may try to take that away from them if Vietnam doesn't align itself with the West.

elephant200Today 08:40 am JST

Oh poor Japan, you are at the same level as third world countries when you like cozying with Vietnam and the Philippines!

Japan is aiding in those countries' development (as it has done for decades), and helping to protect them from rapacious predators like China, as responsible developed countries should. This, in turn, helps Japan's economy and security.

Japan's actions are exactly what is needed.

The vast majority of passengers seemed to be groups of Vietnamese that had QR codes

I assume that’s very new initiative and a welcome one. The re-entry lines at immigration after a Vietnam flight arrives have been re horrendous, stretching forever, and only 2 booths are usually open. Expect to wait over half an hour.

David Brent...

Gotta ensure a steady supply of that slave labour!

These "slaves" are literally queuing up to apply to come to Japan. At least 12 for every available slot. Rates of pay are the same as those offered to Japanese workers, except Japanese don't want to do this work.

Sorry, I mean specialist technical trainees.

Correct. Most are not doing training but repetitive manual work.

@Roy

There were last week when I passed through…

https://www.customs.go.jp/english/passenger/egate.htm

For those that always seem to need a link

I happily stand corrected. They are available to all travelers, though.

Of course they are, not that I suggested otherwise.

However, I stare enough at my phone enough as it is so I will continue to use the paper form for as long as it is available.

My point is different though.

The feeling I got was that the Vietnamese are being streamlined into Japan through formal organizations and are not coming here on holiday but to engage in some type of business which reinforces what the article above alludes to.

AureliusToday 12:02 pm JST

“free and open Indo-Pacific.”

And how will that be accomplished realistically ?

The South China Sea and Taiwan Straight are kept free of Chinese blockades.

Please include a method if your going to respond to my question

Do you think the Indo-Pacific is only the South China sea and Taiwan Straight ?

If so geography lessons are free online

Since you spam all over, Captain America will be essential and can give the PLN a very bad day. And it doesn't matter if countries want to focus on the parts of the Indo-Pacific that China threatens.

AureliusToday 01:29 pm JST

Captain America will be essential and can give the PLN a very bad day. And it doesn't matter if countries want to focus on the parts of the Indo-Pacific that China threatens.

So essential what your saying is you have absolutely no method other than beliefs in super heroes to contain China and establish a free and open Indo-Pacific ?

The US Navy is not fictional.

Hope to see more goods made in Vietnam and less in China from this.

Is it just me, but why are there so many people sitting around that table, when they could do what ever they do with 3/4?.........And let us not forget the cost for the taxpayers.

Go Japan!

Help other countries in need, rather than trying to land/sea-grab their territory like a greedy neighbor!