Japan's close ties with Southeast Asia hold lessons for U.S.

Tokyo has patiently built goodwill with quiet, generous approach

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20231207 kishida asean

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the ASEAN-Japan Summit in Jakarta: Tokyo demonstrates persistent diplomacy with countries caught in the U.S.-China competition. (Pool via Reuters)

Emma Chanlett-Avery is director for political-security affairs at the Asia Society Policy Institute and deputy director of its Washington office.

As Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida welcomes nine Southeast Asian leaders to Tokyo next week to celebrate a half century of Japan-ASEAN relations, U.S. policymakers should be taking note on how Tokyo has effectively engaged with nations in China's backyard.

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