Comment on “Japan’s Way of Life: ASEAN Countries Still Have High Expectations of Japan as Told by Former Prime Minister Fukuda” [in Japanese]
On December 14, 2023, Asahi Shimbun published a comment by Professor Maiko Ichihara of the Graduate School of Law on the Asahi Shimbun article, “Japan’s Way of Life: ASEAN Countries Still Have High Expectations of Japan as Told by Former Prime Minister Fukuda.” The article is based on an interview with former Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda about how the relationship between Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has changed over the past 50 years, and what kind of presence Japan has in ASEAN. While Professor Ichihara appreciated former Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda’s deep understanding of the current situation in ASEAN and China, she criticized Japan and ASEAN countries for their reluctance to contribute to stabilizing the international order. She also expressed the hope that leaders will emerge in Japan and Southeast Asia who will be more proactive in setting norms internationally.
