TOKYO, Oct 18 : Japan’s new prime minister, Yoshihide Suga, left Sunday on his first overseas foray since taking over from his former boss Shinzo Abe last month, heading to Vietnam and Indonesia.

The choice to visit Southeast Asia underscores Japan’s efforts to counter Chinese influence and build stronger economic and defense ties in the region, much in line with Abe’s vision of a "free and open Indo-Pacific" that he had pushed with Washington.

"Asean countries are our extremely important partners to achieving the free and open Indo-Pacific that Japan has been promoting, ” Suga told reporters before boarding his flight to Hanoi, Vietnam's capital.

"As part of Indo-Pacific nations, Japan is committed to contribute to the region and I will clearly convey this to the people in and outside of our country."

His trip also reflects pandemic realities. With the US tied up with the Nov. 3 election, Suga was unable to head to Washington straight away for talks with Japan’s most important ally after he replaced Abe, who resigned for health reasons.

As he emerges from Abe’s shadow with promises to "work for the people, ” Suga is proving in some ways to be even more hard line. It has raised hackles within Japan and could rile neighbors, already disgruntled by Abe’s nationalist agenda.

Abe had vowed to restore Japan’s waning diplomatic stature and national pride by promoting ultra-nationalistic policies such as traditional family values and amending the post-World War II pacifist constitution to allow a greater overseas military role for his country.

Suga is expected to sign a defense equipment and technology transfer agreement with Vietnam as part of efforts to promote exports of Japanese-made military equipment. It's a signal that Suga is certain to follow in Abe’s footsteps in diplomacy.

Meanwhile, Kyodo, reported that in separate meetings with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Suga is expected to promote efforts to achieve a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” as well as discuss economic cooperation amid the Covid-19 crisis.

The visit comes as China’s growing maritime assertiveness is prompting Japan to seek support from other countries in the region. Vietnam is one of the claimants in territorial disputes in the South China Sea, while Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone overlaps with China’s nine-dash line.

“I would like to show a resolve to contribute to peace and prosperity in the region toward realizing a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, ” Suga told reporters before leaving from Haneda Airport in Tokyo.

Suga and Phuc, slated to meet Monday in Hanoi, are expected to agree to facilitate the cross-border flow of medical equipment and other goods as Japan looks to diversify its supply chain in light of the pandemic, according to Foreign Ministry officials.

The countries are close to reaching a military agreement enabling Japan to export defense equipment and technology to Vietnam, including patrol planes and radar that would help improve its surveillance capabilities, and the pact could be signed during the trip.

Suga, who became prime minister on Sept 16 after his predecessor Shinzo Abe stepped down for health reasons, will also make a policy speech at Vietnam Japan University, which opened in 2016 with funding from both countries.

After flying to Jakarta on Tuesday, Suga will meet with Joko to discuss restarting travel between Japan and Indonesia that has virtually stopped due to the COVID-19 crisis, as well as cooperation in the development of infrastructure such as railways and ports.

They will also affirm plans to hold a “two-plus-two” meeting between their foreign and defense ministers at an early date to strengthen security cooperation, the officials said.

The prime minister will be traveling with a smaller entourage than usual in order to reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus.

All of them will take PCR tests before departing and upon returning to Japan on Wednesday evening, but Suga and some members of his group will be exempt from tests during the journey, the officials said.

  - AP