ABSTRACT
The vision for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) has clearly become the core diplomatic concept for Japan’s diplomatic relations. As more nations endorsed this concept, the Indo-Pacific region became the fulcrum of the global theater. This chapter explores Japan’s vision of “FOIP,” defining the three pillars of the vision and explaining how these pillars translate into practical cooperation. Since the vision of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific cannot be realized by a single country, it requires the collective efforts of countries that share this vision. The sense of common vision and the need for collective action have naturally prompted Japan to promote partnerships with like-minded countries to generate synergy. The chapter goes on to delineate Japan’s partnership with key players in the Indo-Pacific – namely, India, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the United States, Australia and Europe. The role of Quad as a platform through which the vision of FOIP can be strengthened is explored.
