Takaichi Departs for Visit, Will Articulate Evolved "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" in Vietnam
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will visit Vietnam and Australia, proposing an evolved version of the "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" vision focusing on strengthening energy and critical mineral supply chains, sharing rules, and security cooperation. She will emphasize economic and maritime security.
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- 📰 Published: May 1, 2026 at 19:40
- 🔍 Collected: May 1, 2026 at 20:01 (20 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 1, 2026 at 21:06 (1h 4m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Tokyo, May 1, comprehensive foreign news report) Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi departed today for visits to Vietnam and Australia. During her trip, she will propose an evolved version of the diplomatic policy "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" from three major aspects: strengthening energy and critical mineral supply chains, sharing rules, and expanding cooperation in the security field.
Kyodo News reported that 10 years have passed since then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe proposed the "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" as a pillar of Japanese diplomacy in 2016. Sources today revealed a draft of Takaichi's speech to be delivered in Vietnam, stating that she will point out that the environment in which each country finds itself has undergone significant changes. To respond to intensifying geopolitical competition, technological innovation, and changes in the international order, all countries must enhance their autonomy and resilience in economic, social, and security aspects.
As a concrete example of strengthening supply chains, Takaichi will mention that Japan held an emergency online meeting due to the deteriorating situation in the Middle East to support Asian countries in securing crude oil supply. As the first project for providing financial assistance and yen loans to various countries, Japan plans to indicate that it is considering providing assistance for crude oil procurement for oil refineries in Vietnam.
Regarding sharing rules, Takaichi will mention countermeasures against market-distorting practices and economic coercion, taking China's actions into consideration. In terms of security, she will point out the extreme importance of maritime security and express expanding support for infrastructure development such as airports and ports, and strengthening maritime security capabilities through Official Development Assistance.
Yomiuri Shimbun reported that Takaichi is expected to deliver a foreign policy speech tomorrow at a university in Hanoi, outlining three key cooperation measures to promote the "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" initiative.
Takaichi will propose a "Digital Corridor" plan for building a free and open Indo-Pacific initiative, including by supporting the improvement and construction of submarine cable networks in response to the growing importance of economic security.
According to the speech draft, Takaichi will emphasize that despite significant changes in the global situation, this initiative proposed by Shinzo Abe 10 years ago remains solid and reliable. She will express her determination to "participate more actively than ever" in establishing an international order based on freedom, openness, and the rule of law.
Takaichi will also position the Middle East tensions as an "event testing Japan's determination to implement this initiative." As specific countermeasures, Takaichi is expected to call for strengthening energy cooperation under a financial assistance framework totaling approximately 10 billion US dollars, to maintain supply systems for important materials such as medical supplies. She will also talk about assisting the development of communication infrastructure, such as submarine cable networks and satellite communications, by leveraging Japan's technological advantages.
Regarding China's use of resources such as rare earths to exert economic pressure on other countries, Takaichi will emphasize that price should not be the sole criterion, but rather the importance of "ensuring fair competitive conditions" to avoid over-reliance on specific countries for critical raw material supplies.
In the security field, Takaichi will announce the expansion of the scale and scope of recipient countries for the "Official Security Assistance" (OSA) program. She will also announce support for the construction of infrastructure such as ports and airports, and strengthening maritime security capabilities using Official Development Assistance. After her visit to Vietnam, Takaichi will travel to Australia. (Edited by Ho Hung-ju) 1150501
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(Central News Agency, Tokyo, May 1, comprehensive foreign news report) Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi departed today for visits to Vietnam and Australia. During her trip, she will propose an evolved version of the diplomatic policy "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" from three major aspects: strengthening energy and critical mineral supply chains, sharing rules, and expanding cooperation in the security field.
Kyodo News reported that 10 years have passed since then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe proposed the "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" as a pillar of Japanese diplomacy in 2016. Sources today revealed a draft of Takaichi's speech to be delivered in Vietnam, stating that she will point out that the environment in which each country finds itself has undergone significant changes. To respond to intensifying geopolitical competition, technological innovation, and changes in the international order, all countries must enhance their autonomy and resilience in economic, social, and security aspects.
As a concrete example of strengthening supply chains, Takaichi will mention that Japan held an emergency online meeting due to the deteriorating situation in the Middle East to support Asian countries in securing crude oil supply. As the first project for providing financial assistance and yen loans to various countries, Japan plans to indicate that it is considering providing assistance for crude oil procurement for oil refineries in Vietnam.
Regarding sharing rules, Takaichi will mention countermeasures against market-distorting practices and economic coercion, taking China's actions into consideration. In terms of security, she will point out the extreme importance of maritime security and express expanding support for infrastructure development such as airports and ports, and strengthening maritime security capabilities through Official Development Assistance.
Yomiuri Shimbun reported that Takaichi is expected to deliver a foreign policy speech tomorrow at a university in Hanoi, outlining three key cooperation measures to promote the "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" initiative.
Takaichi will propose a "Digital Corridor" plan for building a free and open Indo-Pacific initiative, including by supporting the improvement and construction of submarine cable networks in response to the growing importance of economic security.
According to the speech draft, Takaichi will emphasize that despite significant changes in the global situation, this initiative proposed by Shinzo Abe 10 years ago remains solid and reliable. She will express her determination to "participate more actively than ever" in establishing an international order based on freedom, openness, and the rule of law.
Takaichi will also position the Middle East tensions as an "event testing Japan's determination to implement this initiative." As specific countermeasures, Takaichi is expected to call for strengthening energy cooperation under a financial assistance framework totaling approximately 10 billion US dollars, to maintain supply systems for important materials such as medical supplies. She will also talk about assisting the development of communication infrastructure, such as submarine cable networks and satellite communications, by leveraging Japan's technological advantages.
Regarding China's use of resources such as rare earths to exert economic pressure on other countries, Takaichi will emphasize that price should not be the sole criterion, but rather the importance of "ensuring fair competitive conditions" to avoid over-reliance on specific countries for critical raw material supplies.
In the security field, Takaichi will announce the expansion of the scale and scope of recipient countries for the "Official Security Assistance" (OSA) program. She will also announce support for the construction of infrastructure such as ports and airports, and strengthening maritime security capabilities using Official Development Assistance. After her visit to Vietnam, Takaichi will travel to Australia. (Edited by Ho Hung-ju) 1150501
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you provide is a force for protecting press freedom
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Text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.