Japan - Vietnam : a relation under influences

Japan, the reigning economic giant of East Asia, and Vietnam, an industrializing socialist country, have historical connections dating back to a Japanese merchant community that flourished in fourteenth century Hoi An. Relations have often been heavily influenced by external powers, and twentienth century encounters have included violent confrontations, but the new century has brought a growing convergence of interests and the beginnings of a new relationship. As the authors point out, relations between the two countries have been greatly influenced by outside powers. In the late nineteenth century, confronted by Western colonialism, Vietnamese nationalists took refuge in Japan and sought inspiration from Japan's economic development and resistance to the West. During the Pacific War Japan's imperial army virtually occupied Vietnam under a treaty agreement with France. And American B52 bombers flew sorties during the Vietnam War from bases in Okinawa, making Tokyo an enemy in the eyes of Hanoi. However, the new century has brought the beginnings of a new relationship based on an emerging convergence of interests.