Archives Japan - Page 5 of 9 - New Eastern Outlook

Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister of Japan, conducted a second quick tour of the Southeast Asian sub-region from November 3 to November 5. Malaysia and the Philippines were the nations that were visited this time. Tokyo’s priority on fortifying its position in the sub-region as a whole was reaffirmed by the tour, even if specific bilateral concerns were discussed in each of these countries. Tokyo, for its part, views that as a crucial middle link in the larger “south-westward movement” of Japanese foreign policy, which has been noticed for a long time by the NEO…

Let us reiterate that the status of relations between the PRC and Japan will increasingly define the overall image of the political situation not only in East Asia but also in the Indo-Pacific area. Generally speaking, the role that the “local” main actors play in it will only grow with time. India should definitely be included in addition to the duo mentioned. On the other hand, the dominant global power of today, which has to claim its involvement in nearly every geopolitical issue, mainly because of historical inertia, will eventually have to scale back its aspirations internationally…

This December will commemorate exactly half a century since Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which comprises ten nations now, nearly every nation in the subregion (with the exception of Papua New Guinea and East Timor), established formal diplomatic ties. Observe that the “issue price” of control is steadily rising at this point in the Big World Game. The subregion is also becoming more significant in Japan’s foreign policy, which is returning to the game as a major player following its defeat in World War II. But let us not forget that the same strategic drive of Imperial Japan to the southwest was the primary cause…