Japan-Vietnam deal for Defence Equipment

Japan and Vietnam have recently signed a new deal, which enables the export of Japanese-made defence equipment and technology to Vietnam.

Highlights

• Both the countries have inked the deal to boost the defence cooperation in the backdrop of China’s growing military influence.
• This deal will elevate the defence partnership among the countries to a new level.
• Countries have also planned to deepen defence ties through multinational joint exercises as well.
• Details regarding the transfer of specific equipment, including naval vessels, will be worked out at subsequent stages.
• To counter the China’s increasingly assertive actions in disputed waters of South China Sea, Japan and Vietnam have also agreed on the importance of maintaining freedom of navigation & overflight in Indo-Pacific region and cooperation in several defence areas including cybersecurity.
• Vietnam is the 11th country with which Japan signed the defence equipment and technology transfer deal.

How China answered to this deal?

China answered to the deal by announcing its plan to donate three million doses of coronavirus vaccine to Vietnam. China is of the view that both the countries should also refrain from any unilateral actions regarding the South China Sea.

China-Vietnam dispute

Vietnam is having territorial disputes with China over the Spratly and Paracel island groups in South China Sea.

China-Japan dispute

Japan and China are also having territorial dispute. Japan regularly protests against Chinese coastguard’s presence in East China Sea near Senkaku Island, which is controlled by Japan & also claimed by China as Diaoyu island.

Month: Current Affairs - September, 2021