ARTICLES

14 Apr 2023

Why ASEAN Appreciates Japan’s Nuanced Approach to Regional Order

Joanne Lin|William Choong

Japan’s foreign policy stance strikes the right tone in a region on alert for potential big power rivalry to worsen.

Japan Japan-Southeast Asia Relations

7 Mar 2023

Japan’s Counter-Strike Capabilities: Southeast Asians Should be Circumspect

Yoichiro Sato

Japan is increasingly moving towards a more muscular defensive posture focused on ground attack capabilities. While these capabilities are aimed at deterring attacks on the Japanese home islands, they also have implications for Southeast Asia.

Japan Japan-Southeast Asia Relations

16 Jan 2023

Japan’s Responses to Chinese Grey-Zone Tactics: Giving Southeast Asia A Leg-up

Yoichiro Sato

With some experience in managing Chinese assertiveness in the East China Sea, Japan is helping Southeast Asian countries manage Beijing’s actions in disputed maritime areas.

Japan Japan-Southeast Asia Relations Maritime Security

30 Nov 2022

Japan’s Counter-strike Missiles and Southeast Asia’s “Nuclear” Question

Yoichiro Sato

Japan is considering the deployment of non-nuclear counter-strike capabilities in the face of growing threats from North Korea and China. This might have a bearing on Southeast Asia.

Defence Japan Japan-Southeast Asia Relations

25 Oct 2022

Cooperation, Challenges and Charms: The UNCLOS for Japan

Yurika Ishii

Japan has made solid contributions to the global rules-based order. Notwithstanding Japan’s efforts for international cooperation, challenges remain in implementing UNCLOS.

Japan Japan-Southeast Asia Relations UNCLOS Why UNCLOS Matters

26 Jul 2022

Shinzo Abe’s Legacy: The Centrality of Southeast Asia

David Arase

Shinzo Abe learned that Japan’s security did not lie in its military, but Japan’s good citizenship in a free-trading rules-based order. Southeast Asia was central to his pursuit of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

ASEAN Indo-Pacific Japan Japan-Southeast Asia Relations

23 May 2022

Kishida’s Charm Diplomacy in Southeast Asia: Moral Suasion Does the Trick

Lim Tai Wei|William Choong

Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s visits to Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand have burnished Japan’s regional credentials, particularly on contentious issues such as the war in Ukraine, the South China Sea disputes and the evolving order in the Indo-Pacific.

Indo-Pacific International Relations Japan Japan-Southeast Asia Relations South China Sea

8 Mar 2022

The State of Southeast Asia Survey

Japan’s Standing in Southeast Asia: Down But Not Out

Lim Tai Wei

Japan has suffered some dips in ranking in the 2022 State of Southeast Asia Survey. That said, Japan’s residual soft power in the region remains undisputed.

Japan Japan-Southeast Asia Relations State of Southeast Asia Survey

28 Jan 2022

Is Kishida’s ‘New Capitalism’ Japan’s New Political-Economic Doctrine?

Lim Tai Wei

Fumio Kishida’s economic policies seek to integrate and refine aspects of Abenomics laid down by Shinzo Abe. These policies should help project Japan’s image as a benign power and reinvigorate its investments in Southeast Asia.

Japan Japan-Southeast Asia Relations

23 Nov 2021

Japan’s Foreign Policy Direction under Kishida

John D. Ciorciari

New Japanese premier Fumio Kishida’s likely continuation of quiet economic, diplomatic and security investment in the region aligns well with Southeast Asian preferences.

Indo-Pacific Japan Japan-Southeast Asia Relations