ABSTRACT

The book studies the development of Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) vision. As strategic competition grows, the lessons from the pandemic, the deepening Sino-US rivalry, and the United States losing grip on the current world strategic environment all compel Japan to focus its attention on the Indo-Pacific region. The volume examines Japan's foreign policy through an analysis of its strategic agenda, economic calculations, maritime security concerns, and soft power policies. It looks at Japan’s relations with United States, Australia, India, Vietnam, Africa, South Korea, Indonesia, and the United States in the context of Japan’s bilateral and multilateral arrangements.

An important contribution to the study of politics in the Indo-Pacific region, the book will be an indispensable resource for students and researchers of political science, international relations, foreign policy, geopolitics, security studies, strategic studies, as well as area studies – namely East and Southeast Asian studies and Indo-Pacific studies.

chapter 1|13 pages

Japan's Unwavering Commitment to a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific”

Generating Synergy among Partners Toward a Common Vision *

chapter 2|22 pages

Japan's “Free and Open Indo-Pacific”

The Economic Calculation

chapter 3|17 pages

The “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” Strategy

Evolving Japan's Maritime Security Strategy

chapter 4|24 pages

The Free and Open Indo-Pacific

Japan's “Soft” Push-Shaping Foreign Policy in Southeast Asia and India

chapter 5|18 pages

The Japan-US Relationship

Imagining Its Future in the Indo-Pacific Era

chapter 6|15 pages

Japan and Australia Relations

A Strategic Partnership for the Indo-Pacific Century*

chapter 7|14 pages

Japan-India Relations in Japan's Notion of Indo-Pacific

Genesis, Difference, and Convergence

chapter 8|25 pages

Japan-India Relations

Changing Contours for Regional Prosperity

chapter 9|20 pages

Japan-Vietnam Relations

Factoring Vietnam in Abe's Southeast Asia Policy

chapter 10|17 pages

Japan-Indonesia Relations

Counterbalancing Power Play and the Role of Japan

chapter 11|16 pages

Japan-Africa Relations

Looking at a Constructive Engagement

chapter 12|16 pages

Japan-South Korean Relations

Addressing the Deadlock