ABSTRACT
It has been more than three decades since Japan’s Prime Minister Fukuda Takeo articulated his Fukuda Doctrine in Manila on August 18, 1977. Indeed, the Fukuda Doctrine essentially reflects Japan’s pragmatic commitment to play a positive role in fostering stability and prosperity in an ideologically divided Southeast Asia during the Cold War era. Since the enunciation of the Fukuda Doctrine, ASEAN– Japan relations have indeed stood the test of time. Indeed, ASEAN and Japan have had good and productive relations for more than three decades. In fact, it is no exaggeration to say that ASEAN’s relationship with Japan has been the closest and deepest in any other ASEAN’s external relations.
