Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba began Thursday a four-day trip to Malaysia and Indonesia to sit down with their leaders as Tokyo aims to strengthen economic and security ties with the Southeast Asian nations.Japan views members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations as important partners in its advocacy for a free and open Indo-Pacific and in ensuring a rules-based order in a region where China's influence is growing.The trip marks the first time Ishiba, who became Japan's prime minister in October, will travel overseas solely for bilateral summits."I plan to take time to disc…READ FULL ARTICLE
