ABSTRACT
As Japan continues to navigate through the ongoing impact of COVID-19 like the rest of the world, it also continues its diplomatic efforts to uphold the liberal international order. In particular, Southeast Asia has emerged as the critical region for Japan’s effort to promote the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) concept, and India is an important partner for Japan to that end. While there are many challenges, such as the fight with COVID-19 and the necessity for sustained effort by the leadership in both Tokyo and New Delhi, there is a great deal of potential in the ways in which both countries can coordinate their respective cooperation with ASEAN. As Tokyo and New Delhi look to organize their Indo-Pacific diplomacy around principles such as FOIP and IPMI in support of AOIP, better coordination in their support for South China Sea claimant countries in ASEAN will become as critical as keeping ASEAN unity and centrality as the stabilizing factor in the Indo-Pacific region.
