Japan’s Security Policy towards East Asia

Abstract

After the Second World War, Japan was occupied by the United States, regaining its sovereignty in 1952 with the signing of the San Francisco Peace Treaty and the Japan-US Security Treaty. During the Cold War, Japan maintained a low military profile, refraining from developing strong military forces and from deploying them overseas. Its security relations with East Asian countries were not very tense. However, Japan’s security policy has undergone significant transformation after the Cold War. This change was prompted by the weakening of the left in Japanese domestic politics, North Korea’s missile and nuclear development programmes, and the rise of China’s power. Instead of making active efforts at improving its relations with its neighbouring states, Japan has taken a realist policy of strengthening its own military capability, enhancing its alliance, and building new security ties with states that have similar security concerns

Keywords

• Japan, the United States, China, North Korea, South Korea, Australia, India.

References

1. National Defense Program Outline (NDPO) (Official translation presented in Defense of Japan 1989), “Section 2: International Situation”. NDPO and NDPG refer to the same document; the government currently uses NDPG.
2. NDPO, “Section 3: Basic Defense Concept, (2) Countering Aggression”.
3. NDPO, “Section 3: Basic Defense Concept, (1) Prevention of Armed Invasion”.
4. Japan and China normalised relations in 1972 and then signed a peace treaty in 1978.
5. Since then, the SDF has participated in several UN peacekeeping operations, in Mozambique (1993), Golan Heights (1996), East Timor (1999, 2002), Nepal (2007), Sudan (2008), Haiti (2010), and South Sudan (2012). For a detailed review of Japan’s involvement in UN PKOs, see, Gunjishi gakkai (Military History Association) (ed.), PKO no shiteki kensho (Historical Investigation of PKO), Tokyo, Kinseisha, 2007.
6. National Defense Program Outline in and after FY 1996 (NDPO FY1996) (Official translation presented in Defense of Japan 2000), “III: Security of Japan and Roles of Defense Capabilities, (Role of defense capability), (3) Contribution to Creation of a More Stable Security Environment”.
7. In Japan’s definition, both US-led activities and UN peacekeeping operations fall into the category of international peace cooperation activities.
8. NDPO FY1996, “II. International Situation, 1”.

9. Ibid., “II. International Situation, 3”.
10. Ibid., “III. Security of Japan and Roles of Defense Capabilities (Japan-US Security Arrangements)”.
11. Yomiuri Shimbun, 20 March 2003, evening edition, p. 1.
12. President Roh Moo-hyun (February 2003–February 2008) came to Japan only twice, in June 2003 and December 2004.
13. National Defense Program Guidelines, FY 2005- (NDPG FY2005) (Official translation presented in Defense of Japan 2008), “V. Future Defense Forces, 1. Role of the Defense Forces, (1) Effective Response to the New Threats and Diverse Situations, a. Response to Ballistic Missile Attacks”.
14. Ibid., “II. Security Environment Surrounding Japan, 2”. 16 Ibid. 17 Ibid.
15. Ibid., “II. Security Environment Surrounding Japan, 4”.
16. Ibid.,“V. Future Defense Forces,1. Role of Defense Forces, (1) Effective Response to the New Threats and Diverse Situations, d”.
17. Ibid., “III. Basic Principles of Japan’s Security Policy, 3. Japan-U.S. Security Arrangements”. 21 Ibid.
18. “Foreign Ministry’s Spokesman on DPRK’s Decision to Suspend Activities to Disable Nuclear Facilities”, KCNA, 27 August 2008.
19. “II. Basic Principles of Japan’s Security”, National Defense Program Guidelines for FY 2011 and beyond (NDPG FY2011) (Provisional translation, presented at the website of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at www.mofa.go.jp/policy/security/pdfs/h23_ndpg_en.pdf [last visited 22 February 2013].
20. NDPG FY2011, “III. Security Environment Surrounding Japan, 2”. 25 Ibid.
21. Ibid., “III. Security Environment Surrounding Japan, 3”.
22. Ibid., “III. Security Environment Surrounding Japan, 2”.
23. Ibid., “V. Basic Policies to Ensure Japan’s Security, 3. Multi-layered Security Cooperation with the International Community, (1) Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, I”.
24. Ibid., “IV. Basic Policies to Ensure Japan’s Security, 2. Cooperation with its Ally”. 30 Ibid.
25. Ibid., “IV. Basic Policies to Ensure Japan’s Security, 1. Japan’s Own Efforts (3) Japan’s defense force -Dynamic Defense Force”. 32 Ibid.
26. Ibid., “V. Future Defense Forces, 1. Roles of Defense Forces, (1) Effective deterrence and response, e. Response to ballistic missile attacks”.
27. Furukawa Hajime, “Japan, ROK to Push Defense Cooperation”, Yomiuri Shimbun, 12 January 2011.