Malaysia and Japan: Fanning old flames

Diplomatic dance: Suga (left) and Indonesian President Joko Widodo greeting each other during a joint press conference at the presidential palace in Bogor, on the outskirts of Jakarta. — AFP

JAPAN’S new Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga seems to be quite the decisive fellow. Untroubled by opposition in the Home Islands, he is moving quickly to cement ties with friends and allies overseas. A surprise, as analysts initially believed that foreign policy would be one of Suga’s weak spots.

One of his earliest foreign policy moves is a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, a clear signal that he wishes to continue Japan’s cordial relationship with China. However, he is also maintaining Japan’s relationship with the United States, having hosted the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Tokyo earlier this month.