Japan PM Suga to skip US, plans to visit Indonesia, Vietnam for first trip abroad

Analysts described the two countries as ‘straightforward’ destinations for Suga’s first overseas trip as prime minister, and he is expected to receive a warm reception in both

His plans are seen as a bid to strengthen a diplomatic alliance against Beijing, given that all three countries share concerns about China’s encroachment into territorial waters they claim as their own

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Yoshihide Suga, left, on his first official domestic visit to the disaster-stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant last month. Photo: Kyodo

Published: 9:40am, 2 Oct 2020Updated: 10:40pm, 5 Oct 2020

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is drawing up plans to make Vietnam and Indonesia his first overseas forays as the leader of Japan, with visits in mid-October designed to reinforce Tokyo’s economic and security ties with two of its closest allies in Southeast Asia.

National broadcaster NHK reported that Japan is already in consultations with the two governments and that Suga, who assumed office on September 16, will meet his Vietnamese counterpart, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, and Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

Given the broader economic and security concerns of the region, some had anticipated that Suga might opt to follow in the footsteps of many previous Japanese leaders, using his symbolic first foreign trip to travel to Washington and reiterate the importance of a trans-Pacific alliance that dates back to 1945.

That Suga has opted for two countries in Southeast Asia underlines their importance in his regional strategy, but also indicates a desire to distance Japan from the political squabbles that are erupting in the run-up to the US presidential election next month.

Formerly the chief cabinet secretary, where he focused largely on domestic matters under his predecessor, Shinzo Abe, Suga has limited experience in international relations. Analysts say Vietnam and Indonesia are “straightforward” destinations for his first overseas trip as prime minister.

They also point out that Abe visited Vietnam on his first foreign trip upon the start of his second administration, and that Suga appears to be following closely in his predecessor’s footsteps on foreign policy.

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