The Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) Vision: Japan’s Inclusive, Rules-based Approach to Security and Prosperity

IncrIncrementalism Amid Permanent Obstacles: Japan’s Foreign Policy (2012-2022)

“…The Development Cooperation Charter emphasized the role of development assistance as a catalyst for cooperation and reaffirmed its main characteristics, such as decentralized systems and responsibilities for policymaking and implementation; the extensive use of loans; the request-based principle; the focus on Asia and economic infrastructure; the understanding that poverty reduction was essential for eliminating terrorism and other causes of international instability; and the prioritization of sectors such as education, health care, welfare, water, sanitation and agriculture to support human and social development in the developing states. However, even Abe"s robust engagement with Taiwan did not significantly derail the efforts to improve bilateral relations with China in the latter half of his tenure, while relations with South Korea became worse in the context of antagonism over historical issues (Dobson, 2017;Envall, 2020;Kato, 2016;Liff & Lipscy, 2022;Nagy, 2022;Pyle, 2018).…”

“…Also in late 2021, US and Japanese militaries stepped up their exercises in Asian waters and included partners such as Canada, Australia and, for the first time, Germany to signal to China the rising costs of its coercion against Taiwan. Another feature of Japanese foreign policy in 2021 was the provision of COVID-19 vaccine doses mostly to neighbors such as Vietnam, Indonesia, and Taiwan (Liff, 2022;Nagy, 2022;Smith & McClean, 2022).…”

“…Japan is Southeast Asia"s partner in dealing with maritime challenges in the South China Sea, and Southeast Asia states see that partnering with Japan might reduce the possibilities of being drawn into security dilemmas and other traps associated with being perceived to pick sides in a great power competition between the United States and China. China"s military and economic growth also preoccupies India, which cooperates with Japan to focus on connectivity and development, as well as counter the Belt and Road Initiative in a coordinated manner to outreach to Southeast Asia and the Bay of Bengal states (Nagy, 2022).…”