Foreign and security policy under the DPJ: from idealism to pragmatism

The fragile foundation of foreign and security policy During the three years and three months of DPJ government, the confused state of foreign and security policy significantly diminished the public’s trust in the DPJ’s ability to govern the nation. This was particularly true during the initial nine-month administration of Yukio Hatoyama. The subsequent administrations of Naoto Kan and Yoshihiko Noda attempted to restore the foundation of Japan’s foreign policy, especially vis-à-vis the U.S., but the rise of China and its assertive maritime activities increasingly preoccupied Tokyo’s diplomatic agenda.