The governments of Japan and Vietnam are contemplating establishing a new agreement that would enable them to share information regarding each other's nationals who are arrested or detained in their respective countries.
The intended agreement seeks to enhance deterrence in response to the rising incidence of crimes perpetrated by Vietnamese citizens in Japan.
In their meeting next week, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and General Secretary To Lam of the Communist Party of Vietnam, who is also the president of the Southeast Asian nation, are anticipated to finalize the new pact agreement.
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During their meeting in Hanoi in May, the two leaders decided to enhance collaboration on consular matters.
According to the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, notifying a foreigner's home country about their arrest or detention generally necessitates the individual's consent.
Japan and Vietnam are exploring the possibility of permitting such reporting without the approval of individuals who are arrested or detained according to the proposed agreement.
Although specifics, including the categories of incidents that require reporting, will be addressed later, the agreement will not come into effect for at least two or three years due to its relation to human rights.
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The National Police Agency reported that police addressed 10,773 incidents involving Vietnamese individuals, not including permanent residents in Japan, in 2025, marking an increase of approximately 11 percent compared to the previous year. The statistic represented over 40 percent of all instances involving foreigners.
Japan has to date entered into a similar reporting agreement or treaty with the United States, the United Kingdom, China, and the former Soviet Union.
The treaty on consular affairs between Japan and the Soviet Union, along with its protocols, establishes the right to request reporting within three days of arrest or detention and allows meetings between detained individuals and consuls within four days.
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According to the treaty and protocols, the Japanese government sought an immediate consular meeting for a journalist from the Hokkaido Shimbun, a daily publication in Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido, who was apprehended by Russian officials on October 13 on charges of espionage.