Bangkok is one of the most visited cities in (Reuters) As Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida closed up the final phase of a three-nation tour of Southeast Asia, the leaders of Japan and Thailand announced a new defense agreement as well as intentions to upgrade their economic cooperation.
The deal would make it easier for Japan to send defense hardware and technology to Thailand, which has one of the largest and best-equipped armies in the area as well as a long history of military cooperation with the US.In a joint statement read alongside Kishida, Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha stated, "This would help boost national defense and support investment from Japan in this activity, which is an essential goal for Thailand."
Prayuth said he and Japan, Thailand's largest investor, talked about improving supply chains and establishing a five-year economic cooperation.
Southeast Asia has long been a vital region for Japan, holding some of the country's most well-known companies in fields ranging from infrastructure, engineering, and industrial zones to automobile and electronics manufacture.
The region continues to be a battleground between Japan's close ally, the United States, and China, Southeast Asia's largest trading partner. Kishida visited Vietnam and Indonesia during his three-day trip, both of which have a strong Japanese presence.During his visit to Southeast Asia, Kishida highlighted Russia's invasion of Ukraine as the leader of Asia's single member of the Group of Seven (G7). Only one country, Singapore, has joined sanctions against Moscow. Russian efforts in Ukraine are referred to as a "special operation."
However, nine Southeast Asian countries backed a UN resolution condemning the invasion in March, and Kishida expressed gratitude to Prayuth for his support.
"I agreed with Prime Minister Prayuth that unilateral alterations to the status quo with force in any region should not be permitted," he stated.
Japan's Cabinet Secretary for Public Affairs, Noriyuki Shikata, told reporters earlier on Monday that Tokyo would extend a 50 billion yen ($385 million) loan to Thailand to help with Covid-19 mitigation.
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