Nov. 12 (UPI) -- "Japan is back," declared Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at her diplomatic debut during the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur. Echoing the legacy of her late mentor Shinzo Abe, she reaffirmed Japan's commitment to the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) strategy and pledged deeper cooperation with ASEAN in maritime security, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and disaster response. The summit concluded with a joint statement endorsing FOIP and a proposal for a Japan-ASEAN AI initiative focused on human resource development and technological collaboration.
Takaichi's diplomatic momentum continued during U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to Tokyo from October 27-29. The two leaders signed several key agreements, including:
- A bilateral trade deal reducing U.S. tariffs on Japanese goods to 15% (down from the threatened 25%) in exchange for Japan's pledge to invest $550 billion in U.S. industry and open its markets to American rice, cars, and defense equipment.
- A critical minerals framework to secure supply chains for rare earths and strategic resources, countering China's export restrictions.
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