The ASEAN–Japan Partnership: Celebrating 50 Years of Collaboration

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In December 2023, ASEAN marked the 50th ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit, highlighting the enduring and special relationship between Southeast Asia and Japan. This partnership began in the 1970s with the Fukuda Doctrine, emphasizing Japan’s commitment to a non-military role and a close relationship with Southeast Asia. Japan’s foreign direct investment significantly contributed to the economic development of countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

Initially driven by economic factors, Japan’s connections with Southeast Asia have evolved into a more multidimensional partnership. The relationship now encompasses cultural exchanges, educational programs, and interpersonal interactions. Japanese businesses, recognizing the talent in Southeast Asia, have increasingly hired individuals from the region, demonstrating a shift from a purely economic association to a more interconnected and personal collaboration.

Despite challenges in global power dynamics, opportunities for collaboration between ASEAN and Japan persist. Japan played a crucial role in sustaining initiatives like the Trans-Pacific Partnership, transforming it into the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership after the U.S. withdrawal. ASEAN’s adept handling of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership further demonstrates collaboration with Japan and other partners.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Japanese economic elites contributed to the establishment of the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO), a regional institution aiding macroeconomic and financial resilience. Japan’s diplomatic approach, emphasizing consensus-building and leading from behind, aligns well with the preferences of Southeast Asian nations.

Looking forward, Japan could provide rigorous support to Southeast Asian economies facing the middle-income trap, drawing on its own post-World War Two experience of absorbing and improvising foreign technology. However, navigating the contemporary global economy requires cooperation and co-creation with developing nations, particularly within Southeast Asia.

To strengthen this relationship, Japan and ASEAN should focus on expanding educational institutions, fostering dialogue, and providing patient capital. These efforts will contribute to a more enriching, sustainable, and mutually beneficial partnership in the coming decades.