By Prashanth Parameswaran
A closer look at an idea that has received growing attention.
Last week, the Center for the National Interest, a Washington-D.C. based think tank, released a new report on the prospects for trilateral cooperation between the United States, Japan and Vietnam.
The report is one of several “Track 2” initiatives that have sought to explore opportunities for greater collaboration among the three countries over the past few years. These trilateral dialogues have become increasingly popular recently as the United States looks to supplement its existing network of alliances and partnerships with new linkages, including those between the U.S.-Japan alliance and other nations.
The case for greater U.S.-Japan-Vietnam trilateral cooperation is clear enough, and the individual chapters of the report lay it out well. Economically, the United States and Japan have contributed significantly to Vietnam’s progress since the 1990s, and additional opportunities are available in fields like nuclear energy and Mekong sub-regional development more generally. All three countries are also part of the ongoing Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations which will hopefully be completed soon. Security-wise, the agenda is also quite rich given the common concerns Japan and Vietnam share on maritime security (especially given the East China Sea and South China Sea disputes) as well as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR).
Read the full story at The Diplomat