Partnering with Southeast Asia is “vital for regional peace and stability,” Japan’s top diplomat says during Manila visit.

Speaking in Manila, Iwaya Takeshi said that his country’s partnership with Southeast Asia was “vital for regional peace and stability,”

Japanese PM Shigeru Ishiba has been seeking to meet US President Donald Trump after he won elections in November. Ishiba, who is likely to embark on US visit in coming weeks, wants Trump's commitment to ensure a strong American presence in the region.

Japan's concerns over a potential U.S. retreat from the region have grown amid China's increasingly assertive military posture.

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, struggling to stabilize his minority government, said Friday he will seek to maintain regional security and prepare for tough negotiations with U.S. President Donald Trump to win his commitment to maintain a strong American presence in the Asia-Pacific.

VIENTIANE, Laos--Southeast Asian leaders stepped up pressure on China to respect international ... with new Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.

The Quad grouping met many times during the administration of former President Joe Biden, with a focus on Beijing's military and economic activities in the Indo-Pacific, particularly in the South China Sea where U.S. allies have pushed back against Beijing's territorial claims.

Analysts said meeting is designed to signal that countering Beijing is a top priority for Mr Trump. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya on Friday renewed Japan's pledge to strengthen its alliance with the United States under new President Donald Trump and to promote global cooperation by enhancing ties with other like-minded partners.

Donald Trump was soft on China in his inauguration day speeches, prompting suggestions he might want to do a deal with Xi Jinping.

Pragmatic dialogue and collaboration are key to navigating the complexities of international relations, particularly in Malaysia's engagements with major powers such as the United States and China, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Tuesday (Jan 21).

The Philippines has launched a comic book to counter what the country says is China’s disinformation campaign to push its expansive territorial claims in the South China Sea.