The Asia-Pacific Region is one of the geographies where global security is most fragile and security concerns are felt. This situation encourages the states of the region to polarize and to establish pacts through security-based agreements. At the same time, the states in the region have to choose between the anti-Western states such as China, North Korea and the United States (USA)-based Western alliance due to these perceived security concerns and threat perceptions, and they increase their defence and military expenditures, especially in the context of their national security.
In this context, it can be argued that Japan is developing its relations and dialogues with the West and increasing the importance it attaches to its military power. As a matter of fact, it can be said that Japan has been implementing a more proactive and pro-Western policy. It can be stated that the most important reasons for the situation in question are the presence of China, which aims to challenge the rules-based international order, and North Korea, which has increased both nuclear and ballistic missile tests. At this point, it can be deduced that Japan, which has a pacifist constitution, is trying to reverse this situation.
As a matter of fact, the Defense Agreement signed on January 11, 2023 between British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Kishida, who is in the UK for a tour that includes the G7 countries, France, Italy, Canada and the USA, is of great importance. Under this agreement, both countries will be able to deploy forces on each other’s territory for training and other operations. In a statement made by Sunak’s office, this agreement was described as “the most important defense agreement between the two countries in more than a century”.[1]
Since the G7 Summit in 2023 will be held in Hiroshima,[2] Japan’s bilateral relations and negotiations with the G7 countries have gained special importance. It can be said that this situation has an accelerating effect on Japan’s proactive foreign policy production process.
In addition, it can be stated that Japan’s being an important ally of both the USA and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in the Asia-Pacific Region and being accepted as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is of critical importance.
On the other hand, in a statement on March 14, 2023, Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said that his country will host a tripartite meeting on March 16, 2023, with the participation of British Defense Minister Ben Wallace and Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto.[3] In this meeting, the ministers announced that they agreed to develop a new generation fighter jet by 2035. At the meeting, part of which was open to the media, Hamada said, “The fighter jet project will lay the foundations of cooperation for future generations and will make a significant contribution to strengthening global security.” Wallace, on the other hand, said that the three countries will establish a “strong and successful” partnership in the future and that their “forward-looking programs” will produce prosperity for them. In the statement made by the Ministry of Defense of Japan, it was stated that all three countries adopted the principle of “Free and Open Indo-Pacific”.[4]
It can be argued that the situation in question is also beneficial for the West. It is known that the West is trying to gain influence in the Asia-Pacific at the point of containing China and limiting North Korea’s nuclear activities. As a matter of fact, with this new policy, Japan is creating an area of action for the Western states in the region.
However, it can be argued that those activities will create negative consequences for the security equations in the region and increase the security dilemma in the region. At the same time, it can be deduced that these developments will provoke Pyongyang and Beijing. In fact, the possibility of a hot conflict in the region may come to the fore in the future.
As a result, it can be argued that the security equations in the Asia-Pacific have become increasingly complex, the polarization in the region has reached its maximum level and the security dilemmas have deepened. This causes the crisis in the region to deepen and makes the security environment fragile.
[1] “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:01.04.2023).
[2] “Human Security and Universal Health Coverage: Japan’s Vision for The G7 Hiroshima Summit”, The Lancet, https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(23)00014-4/fulltext, (Date of Accession:01.04.2023).
[3] “Japan, Britain, Italy Defence Ministers to Meet in Tokyo This Week”, Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/world/japan-britain-italy-defence-ministers-meet-tokyo-this-week-2023-03-14/, (Date of Accession:01.04.2023)
[4] “Japan, U.K. and Italy Defense Ministers Discuss Fighter Jet Deal”, The Japan Times, https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/03/16/national/jp-uk-italy-talks/, (Date of Accession:01.04.2023).
