IP26071
Author:Sarah Soh
Published: 09 June 2026
The first half of 2026 has seen Japan emerge as one of Southeast Asia’s most active and consequential partners. Tokyo’s engagements have been notable not only for their breadth – spanning the economic security, energy, and defence sectors – but also for their practical import. This push comes against a backdrop of growing regional anxieties: heightened great power competition, perceived US disengagement, and mounting global economic volatility.
As countries in Southeast Asia seek partners committed to a stable and prosperous regional order, Japan’s standing as a dependable regional partner means its active outreach is likely to be well received. For Southeast Asian countries wary of being forced to choose between Washington and Beijing, Tokyo offers an attractive proposition: meaningful cooperation without the weight of great power politics. The central question now is whether Japan can match ambition with delivery.
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The article was published by RSIS.
The Romanian Institute for Europe-Asia Studies (IRSEA) and S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), NTU have agreed to enter into an informal agreement on republishing their studies and analysis.
The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the official policy, position or view of IRSEA.