ABSTRACT
Since the early 1970s Japan has placed a high priority on Vietnam in its overall Southeast Asia policy. Strategically, a stable and neutral Vietnam as well as a stable entire Southeast Asian region in the post-Vietnam War phase have been considered important for the security of Japan’s vital sea-lanes of communication. Vietnam has been a key factor, not only because of its potential to become a regional power, but also because of its complex relations with Cambodia and Laos, the ASEAN countries, China, Russia, and the United States. Economically, not only are Vietnam’s economic potential and human resources enormous, but the economic integration among Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and the ASEAN countries that Japan envisages will greatly enhance regional economic development as well as Japanese trade and investment in the region.
