Vientiane Vision 2.0 Puts Japan’s Asia Security Role into Focus
One of the significant but under noticed developments at this year’s ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-related (ADMM) meetings in Bangkok was Japan’s launching of a sequel to its defense initiative for Southeast Asian states, termed Vientiane Vision 2.0. The development once again put the focus on Japan’s rising security role in the Asia-Pacific in general and in Southeast Asia in particular.
Despite restrictions that remain on its defense options, Japan has long played an important if underappreciated role in Asian security, with Tokyo being an integral to trends and developments from the development of regional security architecture to the rise of coast guard forces in Southeast Asia.
Prashanth Parameswaran
