Japan's Policy Towards Vietnam From 1998 To Present

This was the first time since World War II that Japan had formulated a comprehensive and expansive Southeast Asian foreign policy, which fully expressed its concern for both the material and spiritual interests of its partners. The Fukuda Doctrine marked an important turning point in Japan's foreign policy, considered a long-term Southeast Asian policy and the fundamental core of Japan's Asia-Pacific policy to this day. The basic content is a foreign policy with a shift, paying special attention to Southeast Asian countries in a comprehensive relationship. There, Japan affirmed that it is a true friend of Southeast Asian countries, and will do its utmost to strengthen the relationship based on mutual understanding and trust. In that sense, the Fukuda Doctrine is the foundation for bringing Japan-ASEAN relations to a new turning point.

However, in the late 1970s, the ASEAN-Indochina and Japan-Vietnam relations fell into a frozen state due to the Cambodian war, making it difficult to implement the Fukuda Doctrine. Since January 8, 1980, Japan unilaterally stopped providing ODA aid and implemented a cold foreign policy towards Vietnam. It was not until 1992, after the Cold War and the Cambodian war ended, despite the US embargo on Vietnam, that Japan resumed providing ODA aid to Vietnam, marking a step forward in Japan's independent foreign policy towards the US.

2.2.2. Theories from 1992 - 1998

During this time, Prime Minister T. Kaifu also gave a speech during his visit to Singapore, which was considered the Kaifu Doctrine or Fukuda Doctrine 2 because it revived the Fukuda Doctrine of 1977. Basically, the policy content on Southeast Asia and Asia was not much different from

with the Fukuda doctrine, but there were more specific contents for the Indochinese countries. Mr. T. Kaifu said: "Strengthening the stability and development of the Indochina region after achieving peace in Cambodia is an important policy that directly affects the stability and prosperity of Japan, ASEAN countries and the whole of Asia. It is important to bring war-torn Indochina into the dynamic economic development of Asia. First of all, ASEAN countries expand relations with Indochina and Japan actively supports this process" 24 . Direction

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Mr. T. Kaifu's above proposal was further promoted by Prime Minister Miyazawa. In early 1993, Mr. Miyazawa endorsed a multilateral aid program of Japan and considered as a supplement to Japan's unilateral aid program to ASEAN countries. He proposed that Japan should join forces with ASEAN countries in providing technical assistance to less developed countries by combining Japanese funds with Southeast Asian personnel. A new transport network between Thailand and Vietnam would probably be the first project. A move showing Japan's interest later was the event of Mr. T. Murayama, the first Japanese prime minister, visiting Vietnam in August 1994. His visit affirmed the Japanese government's "Looking to Vietnam" policy.

In July 1995, an important event for Vietnam in particular and the Southeast Asian region in general was the event of Vietnam joining ASEAN, which strengthened its strength as well as contributed to tightening the relationship within ASEAN. From now on, Vietnam will be included in Japan's ASEAN policy, at the same time, it is an opportunity for Vietnam to participate in ASEAN's plans for Japan in particular and other countries in the world in general.

24 Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities No. 4/1997

In January 1997, after taking office, Prime Minister R. Hashimoto made a tour of 5 ASEAN countries (Bruney, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Singapore) and in Singapore, he read an important speech declaring the Southeast Asia policy, also known as the Hashimoto doctrine, with the main content being:

- Strengthen high-level dialogue

- Cultural cooperation in the direction of coexistence and inheritance of traditions

system

- Dealing with global issues together

On the basis of that foreign policy, Prime Minister R. Hashimoto and his faction

A high-level delegation visited Vietnam. The two sides discussed directions and practical measures to further promote and expand cooperation between the two sides in the coming years. Prime Minister R. Hashimoto affirmed: "The Japanese government will increase funding for human resource development and encourage Japanese companies to increase investment and trade with Vietnam."

The Hashimoto Doctrine marked a turning point in Japan’s post-Cold War policy adjustment. In essence, the Hashimoto Doctrine did not contain anything new, as it had been the main line that Japan had pursued since the early 1990s. However, the Hashimoto Doctrine was still significant because for the first time since the end of the Cold War, Japan was determined to play a greater political role in the region by strengthening dialogue with ASEAN and recognizing ASEAN’s role as an important political force in the Asia-Pacific region.

2.2.3. Theories from 1998 to present

1998 was the year Japan implemented many activities to help overcome the Asian financial crisis, so from an economic perspective, this was a

is the year Japan increased its role in the region. From a political perspective, building a multi-layered partnership strategy with Asia is now very necessary. From that perspective, the implementation of the "Asia-oriented" policy was deployed based on the spirit of the Hashimoto doctrine. At the 6th ASEAN official summit held in Hanoi in December 1998, which was also the first ASEAN official summit with 3 dialogue countries: China, Japan and South Korea, Prime Minister K. Obuchi gave a speech in which he raised a number of initiatives to further strengthen Japan-ASEAN relations in general and Japan-Vietnam relations in particular, including:

- Strengthen dialogue and cooperation in the 21st century, whereby high-level dialogues will be held regularly and Japan will sponsor the organization of the Japan-ASEAN Consultative Conference Vision 2020.

- Cooperation to resolve the Asian economic crisis, whereby Japan will quickly restore its economy and cooperate to help Asian countries restore their economies, especially in the fields of infrastructure development, human resources, finance and processing industry.

- Cooperate to solve problems related to human security such as building social safety nets and solving problems such as environment, drugs...

- Promote intellectual and cultural exchange activities

During this visit, Prime Minister K. Obuchi was deeply impressed by Vietnam's development under the renovation policy. As the former Chairman of the Japan-Vietnam Parliamentary Alliance and Chairman of the Japan-Vietnam Cultural Exchange Association, he did his best to promote Japan-Vietnam relations. Accordingly, the Japanese government decided to increase the total aid to Vietnam in the 1998 fiscal year to

103.3 billion Yen and agreed to let Vietnam participate in the Japan Fund worth 30 billion USD to support countries in the region to overcome the consequences of the financial crisis.

The new point in K.Obuchi's doctrine compared to previous doctrines is that it not only focuses on economic and political aspects but also emphasizes the aspects of human and social security specifically.

Following the diplomatic line of K. Obuchi, Prime Minister Koizumi's Initiative on Open Partnership was born and believed to have made an important contribution to the development of the Japan-ASEAN strategic partnership. The Prime Minister emphasized ASEAN's contributions to the partnership with Japan and ASEAN's efforts for peace, stability and prosperity in the region and in the Asia-Pacific. At the Japan-ASEAN Summit in December 2003 in Tokyo, the leaders of Japan and ASEAN reaffirmed their special relationship and identified basic directions of cooperation in the fields of trade liberalization and structural reform. The Tokyo Declaration reaffirmed Japan's priority for ASEAN countries under the official development assistance (ODA) program and promoted human resource cooperation.

Regarding Vietnam in particular, Prime Minister J. Koizumi always highly appreciated Vietnam's role in the Southeast Asian region and especially Japan's continued cooperation in the Mekong Sub-region Development Project, through which Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam can accelerate economic development. At the same time, he considered this an important opportunity for Japan to continue to cooperate and provide financial, scientific and information technology support, and build a unified relationship with ASEAN.

An important doctrine during this time was considered a continuation of the Fukuda doctrine of 30 years, which was the Fukuda doctrine of 2007.

The new Fukuda theory develops former Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda's return to Asia policy in a new context.

As the son of former Prime Minister T. Fukuda, after taking office, Y. Fukuda advocated promoting cooperation between Japan and Asian countries in general and Southeast Asia in particular. His cabinet and he himself created a positive atmosphere in relations with Asia. Although he always attached importance to relations with the US, he was the one who proposed building closer relations with neighboring Asian countries. Regarding ASEAN, Mr. Y. Fukuda said that Japan-ASEAN relations have developed in recent years, especially the successful signing of the Japan-ASEAN Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, creating momentum for the establishment of a separate market in the ASEAN region: "ASEAN is a partner that shares a vision for the future with Japan because the stability and prosperity of ASEAN also benefits Japan" . Japan wishes to strengthen cooperation with ASEAN in many areas such as politics, economy, environment... strongly supporting ASEAN's efforts to establish a unified ASEAN community by 2015 by establishing the Japan-ASEAN Unity Fund (JAIF) in March 2006 with the decision to provide 7.5 billion Yen to the fund; actively supporting the development of the Mekong sub-region project with an estimated capital of 20 million USD; in addition, Japan is also actively supporting to create conditions for the formation of a trans-Indochina corridor from East to West, called the East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC), to promote economic cooperation between localities along the EWEC, facilitate trade, investment and economic development; reduce transportation costs in localities along the EWEC; contribute to hunger eradication and poverty reduction in localities.

Former Prime Minister Y. Fukuda emphasized: "Japan and ASEAN are partners who think together, act together, and share a vision for the future.

and that partnership will be sustainable" . Compared to his predecessor Shinzo Abe, Mr. Y. Fukuda's Southeast Asia policy was more specific and raised to a new level. However, he quickly left the prime minister's position just a year later and his successor was former Foreign Minister Taro Aso. With this new prime minister's commitment to maintain Y. Fukuda's foreign policy, including Southeast Asia policy, it is hoped that Japan's relationship with Southeast Asian countries in general and Vietnam in particular will be expanded and developed further.

2.3. JAPAN'S POLICY TOWARDS VIETNAM FROM 1998 TO PRESENT

Vietnam's membership in APEC in November 1998, after joining ASEAN in July 1995, co-founding the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in 1996, joining the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2006, and most recently becoming a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2008-2009 term, is a logical step of great significance in the process of Vietnam's regional economic integration, contributing to enhancing Vietnam's position and role in the international arena. Therefore, in its foreign policy, the Japanese government has considered Vietnam an important strategic partner in Asia, considering the promotion of a multifaceted strategic partnership with Vietnam as a factor contributing to bringing the relationship between the two countries to a new height. Therefore, since 1998, Japan has implemented a policy towards Vietnam of "directing Vietnam to a strategic partnership" in many fields such as politics, economics, culture... for peace and prospects in Asia.

2.3.1. Security and political fields

2.3.1.1. Actively engage in policy dialogue, high-level dialogue and exchange

Recognizing the importance of policy dialogue at various levels and in various fields such as politics, economics, culture, etc.,

Especially political dialogue, will further promote deep understanding as regional partners, as well as strengthen bilateral relations with Vietnam, the Vietnam - Japan Cooperation Committee was held in May 2007 in Japan, created a comprehensive policy dialogue framework at the Foreign Minister level and affirmed to hold regular meetings once a year, alternating in Japan and Vietnam. Accordingly, the Japanese government actively conducts policy dialogue with the Vietnamese government in areas such as defense, environment, information technology, etc. Policy dialogue is an extremely necessary task, not only to strengthen cooperation, support and exchange of opinions on issues of the two countries but also on common issues of the region and the world such as: Mekong region, ASEAN region, East Asia region, etc. Therefore, the Japanese and Vietnamese governments both highly appreciate the building of strategic partnerships by conducting policy dialogue.

In addition, both sides welcomed and highly appreciated the visits between members of the two countries' parliaments to enhance mutual understanding and cooperation between the two countries and expressed their desire to further expand such visits. Over the years, annual high-level visits by the two governments have continuously increased and become more in-depth. In particular, the official visit to Japan from November 25 to 27, 2007 by Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet was highly appreciated by the Japanese government because this was the highest-level visit by a Vietnamese leader to Japan since the two countries established diplomatic relations in September 1973.

2.3.1.2. Actively engage in security dialogue and defense exchanges

With Vietnam's strategic position and dynamic development in Southeast Asia, not only Japan but also other countries in the region