Japan’s defense minister begins visits to Cambodia and Vietnam, both under Beijing’s shadow
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Japan’s defense minister begins visits to Cambodia and Vietnam, both under Beijing’s shadow

Associated Press  

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Japan’s defense minister held talks with senior officials in Cambodia, a top ally of China, on Monday as he began a Southeast Asian trip that will also take him to Vietnam, whose relations with Beijing are complicated by maritime disputes. Japan has historically maintained warm relations with Cambodia, but its influence is minor compared to that of China, Tokyo’s biggest geopolitical rival in Asia, with growing influence throughout Southeast Asia. Defense Minister Minoru Kihara held talks with his Cambodian counterpart, Tea Seiha, as well as with Prime Minister Hun Manet and former Prime Minister Hun Sen, who is now president of the Senate, Defense Ministry spokesperson Gen. Chhum Sochet said on his Facebook page. Kihara’s visit coincided with Cambodia’s breaking ground on Monday on a controversial China-backed canal linking the capital, Phnom Penh, with the sea, despite environmental concerns and the risk of straining ties with neighboring Vietnam.

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History of this topic

US-Japan security talks focus on bolstering military cooperation, underscores threat from China
4 months, 3 weeks ago

US-Japan security talks focus on bolstering military cooperation, underscores threat from China

Associated Press  

TOKYO — Japanese and U.S. defense chiefs and top diplomats agreed to further bolster their military cooperation by upgrading the command and control of U.S. forces in the East Asian country and strengthening American-licensed missile production there, describing the rising threat from China as “the greatest strategic challenge.” Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin joined their …

Biden will host Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida in April to strengthen Indo-Pacific alliances
10 months, 4 weeks ago

Biden will host Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida in April to strengthen Indo-Pacific alliances

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden will host Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for a state visit on April 10, with the goal of strengthening a critical alliance as the United States has sought to counter China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific region. John Kirby, the White House national security spokesman, told reporters aboard Air Force One that the visit will include …

Japan and Vietnam agree to boost ties and start discussing Japanese military aid amid China threat
1 year ago

Japan and Vietnam agree to boost ties and start discussing Japanese military aid amid China threat

Associated Press  

TOKYO — Japan and Vietnam on Monday agreed to strengthen their security and economic ties in the face of China’s growing influence in the region. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong held talks in Tokyo and agreed to broaden their security cooperation, work on defense equipment and technology transfers and start discussing a new Japanese …

Free Indo-Pacific, China Threat, Expanding Ties: Here's Why Japan PM's Visit is Significant
1 year, 9 months ago

Free Indo-Pacific, China Threat, Expanding Ties: Here's Why Japan PM's Visit is Significant

News 18  

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida arrived in India on Monday to explore ways to boost bilateral ties in areas of defence, security, trade and high technologies. The Japanese prime minister arrived in Delhi at around 8 am on Monday on a nearly 27-hour visit to ramp up bilateral ties in a range of areas and discuss how convergence between India’s …

Japan PM Kishida Likely to Unveil 'Indo-Pacific Plan for Peace' During Visit to India
1 year, 9 months ago

Japan PM Kishida Likely to Unveil 'Indo-Pacific Plan for Peace' During Visit to India

News 18  

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is expected to unveil his plan for a “free and open Indo-Pacific” with a focus on India’s increasingly significant role in the region during his visit to New Delhi on Monday. The evolving situation in the Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of China’s rising military assertiveness is also likely to figure in wide-ranging talks between Prime …

US concerns on Chinese military-related projects in Cambodia
2 years, 1 month ago

US concerns on Chinese military-related projects in Cambodia

Hindustan Times  

China has finally conceded that it is helping Cambodia to upgrade the Ream Naval Base. During a routine briefing, the Chinese ministry of foreign affairs spokesperson announced that the ongoing augmentation of infrastructure at the naval base with Chinese assistance will enable the Cambodian navy to defend national maritime interests. Prime Minister Hun Sen even invited foreign navies to “dock …

China stresses ties with Southeast Asia in Cambodia meeting
2 years, 4 months ago

China stresses ties with Southeast Asia in Cambodia meeting

Associated Press  

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stressed his country’s efforts to strengthen ties with Southeast Asian countries at a meeting Thursday with their foreign ministers, which came as Beijing seeks to expand its influence in the region. In the Phnom Penh meetings, Wang pledged that China will continue to “strive to promote high-quality development, build a new …

Japan discusses regional defense in rare visit to Taiwan
2 years, 4 months ago

Japan discusses regional defense in rare visit to Taiwan

Associated Press  

TAIPEI, Taiwan — A group of Japanese lawmakers including two former defense ministers met with Taiwan’s president Thursday in a rare high-level visit to discuss regional security. The delegation, led by lawmaker and former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba, said it wanted to reach an agreement with Taiwan on defense issues and prepare for any potential conflict in the region, while …

Japan’s Kishida holds talks with Thailand’s leader
2 years, 7 months ago

Japan’s Kishida holds talks with Thailand’s leader

Associated Press  

BANGKOK — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met Monday with his Thai counterpart, Prayuth Chan-ocha, for talks about economic, security and geopolitical issues, including political upheaval in Myanmar and Russia’s war in Ukraine. Japan has long been a major economic investor in Thailand, and at a post-meeting news conference Prayuth said the two nations are drafting a five-year strategic plan …

Malaysian PM discusses Myanmar crisis during Cambodia visit
2 years, 10 months ago

Malaysian PM discusses Myanmar crisis during Cambodia visit

Associated Press  

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — The leaders of Malaysia and Cambodia discussed the crisis in military-ruled Myanmar and other regional issues during a meeting in Phnom Penh on Thursday, the two countries said. Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob met with his counterpart, Hun Sen, and King Norodom Sihamoni during his first visit to Cambodia since becoming Malaysia’s leader last August. …

Japan, Cambodia officials agree to cooperate on Myanmar
2 years, 10 months ago

Japan, Cambodia officials agree to cooperate on Myanmar

Associated Press  

TOKYO — Japan’s foreign minister met Monday with the son and appointed successor of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and agreed to cooperate in dealing with the situation in Myanmar following the military’s seizure of power, Japanese officials said. Hun Manet, who is currently commander of Cambodia’s army, accompanied his father during his January visit to Myanmar, the first by …

Cambodia’s foreign minister set to be ASEAN envoy to Myanmar
3 years ago

Cambodia’s foreign minister set to be ASEAN envoy to Myanmar

Associated Press  

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen on Wednesday said he will appoint his country’s foreign minister, Prak Sokhonn, to be the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ special envoy to Myanmar. Speaking at the inauguration of a new hotel in the capital of Phnom Penh, Hun Sen said he was uncertain that ASEAN or Cambodia could solve Myanmar’s …

US envoy conveys concerns to Cambodia about Myanmar, China
3 years ago

US envoy conveys concerns to Cambodia about Myanmar, China

Associated Press  

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — A U.S. State Department envoy conveyed concerns to top Cambodian officials on Friday about bilateral and regional issues, including the crisis in Myanmar and the construction of Chinese military facilities at a Cambodian naval base. Chollet told journalists his discussions with Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn involved issues related to Myanmar and China, as well as …

US tightens curbs as Cambodia moves closer into China’s embrace
3 years ago

US tightens curbs as Cambodia moves closer into China’s embrace

Al Jazeera  

New sanctions, including an arms embargo, imposed amid concern about China’s influence and the effects on the wider region. ‘Despotic friends of practicality’ Prime Minister Hun Sen has dismissed the recent developments as “only political gestures”, that will have no real influence, while his foreign affairs spokesman again denied reports of foreign military presence in Cambodia in a statement to …

China defends Cambodia relations after US expresses concern
3 years, 6 months ago

China defends Cambodia relations after US expresses concern

Associated Press  

BEIJING — China said Thursday its relationship with Cambodia has made positive contributions to regional peace and stability, after the U.S. expressed concerns about the presence of the Chinese military in the Southeast Asian nation. In a meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Tuesday, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman focused on China’s construction of new facilities …

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