Return of Mahathir Mohamad to Asean may put a third power in the picture – Japan
Tokyo could play bigger role in the region and balance rivalry between Beijing and Washington
When the top diplomats from 10 Southeast Asian countries gather in Singapore later this week for their annual meeting, rivalry between China and the United States will again be in the spotlight.
But this year, the return of Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations has put a third power in the picture – Japan, a nation increasingly seen in the region as a more reliable partner as competition between Beijing and Washington intensifies.
“Japan doesn’t speak about its soft power much, but among all the major powers in the region – such as the US, China and India – Japan consistently has the best image in Malaysia,” said Ngeow Chow Bing, deputy director of the Institute of China Studies at the University of Malaya.
The Malaysian leader, who has long been close to Japan and seen the country as an inspiration for achieving economic success in his own country, chose Tokyo for his first foreign visit after his opposition alliance swept to victory in the May election.
During the trip in June, Mahathir met his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe, pledging to strengthen Malaysia’s ties with Japan. He also indicated a determination to reduce the country’s indebtedness to China and made a pitch for more investment from Japan.
