TOKYO -- Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is preparing to visit the Philippines and Vietnam in late April or early May, Nikkei has learned, doubling down on his diplomatic focus on Southeast Asia.
Ishiba visited Laos last October, followed by Malaysia and Indonesia in January. With the upcoming trip, which will fall during Japan's Golden Week holidays, he is expected to affirm the importance of continued U.S. engagement in Asia, as well as shared concerns regarding U.S.-China tensions.
