It is seen that Japan has increased its influence and power in the Asia-Pacific Region, which has become one of the main playing fields of global competition. With its new proactive foreign policy, the Tokyo administration has centralized its position in the region in the geopolitical power struggle. Considering that the country in question has increased its defense expenditures[1], hardened its stance against Russia and China[2], and the defense-based agreements it has signed with Western states, it can be said that Tokyo is getting closer to the United States (US) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) day by” day.
At this point, the defense agreement signed in London in January 2023 between British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida proves the mentioned situation[3]. However, it is also important that Japan is accepted as a non-permanent non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)[4]. At the same time, it is very important that the G7 Summit in 2023 will be held in Hiroshima, Japan, and Tokyo will assume the Presidency of the G7[5]. As a matter of fact, this situation adds importance to Japan’s bilateral relations with the G7 countries. Within the framework of all these developments, it can be argued that Japan will accelerate its Western-centered proactive foreign policy.
In addition, as mentioned above, it is clear that Japan has strengthened its anti-Russia and anti-Chinese rhetoric. In this context, at the cabinet meeting held on January 27, 2023, the Tokyo Administration’s decision to impose additional sanctions on Russia as a response to the ongoing occupation of Ukraine is an indication of Japan’s hardening attitude towards Russia[6]. Moreover, at this point, it can be predicted that the G7 countries, especially Japan, will take a tougher stance against Moscow.
On the other hand, the sub-text that the leaders of the G7 countries will increase the pressure on Russia is emphasized in various statements. Especially at this point, it can be argued that Japan was not influenced by the G7, but the G7 countries were influenced by Tokyo’s rhetoric. Because before this decision was taken, Kishida visited many of the G7 countries[7].
It is known that Japan’s strong US and NATO perspective pushes it to make harsher rhetoric against the “other” states of the West, such as China and Russia. In short, it can be assumed that the aforementioned harsh rhetoric of Japan contributed to the hardening of the attitudes of the G7 countries in terms of anti-Russian sentiment. Because it can be argued that the anti-Russia rhetoric developed by Japan with its breakthrough through both the UNSC and the G7 was supported and adopted by the West.
In the context of China, it is worth noting that Kishida defines the military agreements between the USA and Japan as “milestones”[8]. Because the cooperation on the Tokyo-Washington line is basically shaped by anti-China. In this context, the meeting between Kishida and US President Joe Biden in January 2023 should also be mentioned. In this meeting, naval bases were also discussed[9].
As it is known, the USA and Japan establish a partnership over the seas due to China’s claims about Taiwan. At this point, especially naval bases are being revised and the number of bases is increased[10]. In addition, there is a claim that the USA wants to be active again in Manila Base. As a matter of fact, the reason why Japan both strengthened its anti-Beijing stance and gave significant support to the US presence in the region is the possibility of a possible hot war hitting its own islands. Because the West thinks that these islands have strategic importance in a possible war over Taiwan. For this reason, it can be stated that there is a relationship shaped by the logic of win-win between the parties.
For Tokyo, it is a great advantage for the USA to protect the Japanese Islands; It is also an important issue for Washington to gain geopolitical superiority over China through the Taiwan Crisis by gaining influence in these islands.
As a result, it is possible to say that Tokyo’s stance against Beijing and Moscow will continue. Therefore, it can be argued that unless issues such as the Russia-Ukraine War and the Taiwan Crisis are resolved, the West’s relations with these actors will continue to deteriorate. Of course, it is inevitable that this situation will harden Japan’s rhetoric.
[1] “Japan Unveils REcord Defence Budget Amid Regional Security Fears”, Al Jazeera, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/12/23/japan-unveils-record-defence-budget-amid-regional-security-fears#:~:text=Japan%20will%20boost%20its%20defence,by%20China%20and%20North%20Korea., (Date of Accession: 03.02.2023).
[2] “Tokyo Urged to Heed Rational Voices on China After it Hypes REgular China-Russia Air Patrols”, Al Jazeera, https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202212/1280953.shtml, (Date of Accession: 03.02.2023).
[3] “Japan, UK Sign ‘Hugely Significant’ Defence Deal’, Al Jazeera, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/1/12/japan-uk-sign-hugely-significant-new-defence-deal, (Date of Accession: 03.02.2023).
[4] “Japan Joins U.N. Security Council as New Nonpermanent Member”, Kyodo News, https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/01/6c679e2ec5bf-japan-joins-un-security-council-as-new-nonpermanent-member.html, (Date of Accession: 03.02.2023).
[5] “Japan to Host G7 Summit in Hiroshima Next May”, Japan Times, https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/06/28/national/g7-hiroshima-summit/, (Date of Accession: 03.02.2023).
[6] “Japan Cabinet Approves Additional Sanctions on Russia”, NHK World Japan, https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230127_21/, (Date of Accession: 03.02.2023).
[7] “Japan Prime Minister is Touring G7 Allies in Europe and North America”, Yahoo Finance, shorturl.at/mwzLX, (Date of Accession: 03.02.2023).
[8] “Japan’s Plans for an Anti-China Alliance”, The Spectator, https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/japans-plans-for-an-antichina-alliance/, (Date of Accession: 04.02.2023).
[9] Ibid.
[10] “US Gets Access to 9 Military Bases in the Philippines; China Warns Manila of Being ‘Dragged into Troubled Waters’”, The Eurasian Times, https://eurasiantimes.com/edited-amid-growing-us-philippines-military-coooperation-china/, (Date of Accession: 04.02.2023)
