Japan now has to deal with ASEAN on a more equal footing
The time is right for ASEAN and Japan to forge a new, equal partnership, based on defence and security cooperation, economic development with sustainability and equity and closer mutual understanding.
ASEAN and Japan celebrate the 50th anniversary of their official partnership this year. Both sides have changed dramatically over that time. So, too, has their relationship as China rises, Japan’s projection as a major power shrinks, and South-East Asian economies expand and modernise.
As Japan’s status has diminished, ASEAN’s economic and political status has grown, elevating South-East Asian interests globally. ASEAN’s combined GDP reached about $US3.6 trillion ($5.6 trillion) in 2022 — 85 per cent of that of Japan — and the region is on a strong growth trajectory.
