Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 2. PhD in Regional Studies, Tehran University
2 Professor of International Relations, Shahid Beheshti University
Abstract
With the beginning of the new century, East Asia witnessed a redistribution of power and wealth by the structure of the international system; which changed the balance of power to the advantage of China and to the detriment of the region's traditional power, Japan. Accordingly, this study intends to survey the Japanese government's efforts to preserve its regional political and economic position, with the help of descriptive-analytical approach and qualitative method, and with emphasis on the new realism theory. The results of this study shows that Japan, as a declining regional power and with a rational standpoint, by calculating the costs and benefits of the available options, pursues a set of measures to further its national interests, achieving welfare and security goals. Thus, a review of the simultaneous economic, political, and security plans and actions proposed by Japan in response to China's expansionist plans can show the utilitarian foreign policy of the world's superpowers in the face of the threats of emerging powers.
Keywords
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Geeraerts, G. & Salman, M. (2015). The Impact of Strategic Hedging on the Foreign
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Normalization. In: lam peng er. China-Japan Relations in the 21st Century. East Asian
Institute. National University of Singapore. Singapore. 25-65. DOI: 10.1007/978-981-10-
4373.
Amorim, W. & Dasilva, A. H. L. (2014), Japan and India: Soft Balancing as a Reaction to
China’s Rise. Revista Brasileira De Politica Internacional, (57), 73-90. DOI:
10.1590/0034-7329201400205.
Asean states (2020). Trade annually. https://data.aseanstats.org/trade-annually.
Asgarkhani, A., Ghahremani, M.J. & Ghaderi Hajat, M. (2018). Geoeconomic Analysis of
Chinese Foreign Policy. Journal of International Geopolitical Quarterly. 14(52), 209-223.
Backer, L. C. (2014). The Trans-Pacific Partnership: Japan, China, the U.S. and the
Emerging Shape of a New World Trade Regulatory Order. Washington University Open Scholarship, 13(1), 49-81.
Bureau of Political-Military Affairs (2020), U.S. Security Cooperation with Japan. U.S.
Department of STSTE. https://www.state.gov/u-s-security-cooperation-with-japan/.
Council Foreign Relation (2021). China’s Maritime Disputes 1895-2020.
https://www.cfr.org/timeline/chinas-maritime-disputes.
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road-initiative.
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Post- 1978 Economic Development. World Development, 23(4), 691-703.
DOI:10.1016/0305-750x(94)00143-m.
Cheng, J. Y.S. (2013). China’s Regional Strategy and Challenges in East Asia. Open
Edition Journals & China Perspectives [Online], 53-65. DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4000/chinaperspectives.6182.
Esteban, M. & Armanini, U. (2020). The EU-Japan Connectivity Partnership: A
Sustainable Initiative Awaiting Materialization. Real Instituto Elcano Royal institute.
http://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/wps/portal/rielcano_en/contenido.
Farhadi, Z., Sazmand, B., Mousavi Shfaei, M. & Eslami, M. (2019). Regional Variables
Influencing Japan's Security Developments: 2012-2019. Journal of International
Geopolitical Quarterly, 17(61), 57-63.
Gaens, B. (2019, 29 April). The EU-Asia Connectivity Strategy and Its Impact on Asia-
Europe Relations. Financial Times. 19-27.
Geeraerts, G. & Salman, M. (2015). The Impact of Strategic Hedging on the Foreign
Politics of Great Powers: The Case of Chinese Energy Strategy in the Middle East. Vrije
Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1-14.
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Order. Published by Princeton University Press.
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Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). https://www.international.
gc.ca/trade-commerce/trade-agreements-accords-commerciaux/agr-acc/cptpp-
ptpgp/chapter_summaries-sommaires_chapitres.aspx?lang=eng.
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Publish In Gatewayhouse News. https://www.gatewayhouse.in/japan-aagc/
Hand, M. (2018, Feb 19, 2018). Exclusive: Malacca Straits VLCC Traffic Doubles in a
Decade as Shipping Traffic Hits all Time High in 2017. https://www.seatrade-
maritime.com/asia/exclusive-malacca-straits-vlcc-traffic-doubles-decade-shipping-traffic-
hits-all-time-high-2017.
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Rivalry to Cooperation. Institute of Developing Economies, Vol.689, 1-31.
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projects.
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Infrastructure Connectivity Initiatives and Europe’s Responses. Asian Development Bank
Institute. ADBI Working Paper Series. NO 1114. pp 1-20.
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of Japanese Studies (EIJS), pp 1-9.
Tessman, B. & Wolfe, W. (2011). Great Powers and Strategic Hedging: The Case of
Chinese Energy Security Strategy. International Studies Review, 13(2), pp 214-240, DOI:
10.1111/j.1468-2486.2011.01022.x.
Walt, S. M. (1997). Why Alliances Endure or Collapse. Survival: Global Politics and
Strategy, 39(1), pp 156-179, DOI: 10.1080/00396339708442901.
Waltz, K. (1979). International Political Theory. (R, Talebi Arani, Trans.): Mokhatab
Publishing. [in Persian].
West, J. (2020). The China-Japan Economic Relationship Is Getting Stronger. Brink the
Edge of Risk. https://www.brinknews.com/the-china-japan-economic-relationship-is-
getting-stronger/.
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3104571/us-china-rivalry-quads-rise-serious-threat-beijings-security.
Wurf, H., Pryke, J. & Annmaree, O. A. (2017). Strengthening the Asian Development Bank
in 21st century Asia. Lowy Institute. Australia. pp 1-78. Citable URI:
http://hdl.handle.net/11540/7089.
(FY 2019 - FY 2023). 1-37. https://www.mod.go.jp/j/approach/
agenda/guideline/pdf/chuki_seibi31-35_e.pdf.
Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) (2020). Infrastructure.
https://www.jbic.go.jp/en/business-areas/sectors/infrastructure.html.
Kelly, T. & Kubo, N. (2015). Gulf War Trauma Began Japan's Retreat from Pacifism.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-japan-military-history-insight.
Latorre, M. & Hosoe, N. (2016). The Role of Japanese FDI in China. Jornal of Policy
Modeling, 38(2), 1-16. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpolmod.2016.02.003.
Mimouni, M. (2017). Structure and Tariff Impact of the TPP Agreement. International
Trade Centre (ITC). 1-40
Ministry of Defense (2020). Defense Programs and Budget of Japan-Overview of FY2020
Budget Request. https://www.mod.go.jp/e/d_act/d_budget/pdf/ 200225a.pdf.
Miyashita, A. (2013). Japanese Foreign Policy: The International-Domestic Nexus. In: R.
K. Beasley, J. Kaarbo, J. S. Lantis, M. T. Snarr, Foreign Policy in Comparative
Perspective, (pp 138-161).
Mohammadi, E. (2004). Theories of International Political Economy. Journal of
Humanities (Imam Hossein University), 54, 10-55. [in Persian].
Moshirzadeh, H. (2020). Evolution in Theories of International Relations. Tehran:
Humanities Research and Development Research Institute. [in Persian].
New Zealand Foreign Affairs & Trade (2018). Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement
for Trans-Pacific Partnership. National Interest Analysis. 1-245.
Nikkei Asian Review (2018, June 8, 2018). Japan Expands Loans to Global Infrastructure
Projects. https://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/Japan-expands-loans-to-global-infrastructure-
projects.
Pascha, W. (2020). Belts, Roads, and Regions: The Dynamics of Chinese and Japanese
Infrastructure Connectivity Initiatives and Europe’s Responses. Asian Development Bank
Institute. ADBI Working Paper Series. NO 1114. pp 1-20.
Payandeh Nejad, M. (2018). The Impacts of Expansion of Intra-Regional Trade Relations
on the Eastern Asian Security Dilemma (2010-2018): Strategic Consequences for the
Islamic Republic of Iran. Unpublished Master. The Shahid Beheshti University: Iran,
Tehran
Polanyi, K. (1957). The Great Transformation-The Political and Economic Origins of our
Time. United Stat, Boston.
Pour Rastami, N. (2018). Degree of Trade Dependence of East Asian Countries Using the
Given Table - Asian International Standard. Journal of Economy and New Trade, 13(2), 1-
27. [in Persian].
Privacy Shield Framework (2019). Japan-Defense Procurement. https://www.
privacyshield.gov/article?id=Japan-Defense-Procurement.
Przystup, J. J. (2015). The U.S.-Japan Alliance: Review of the Guidelines for Defense
Cooperation. National Defense University Press Washington, D.C. Institute for National
Strategic Studies Strategic Perspectives, No. 18, pp 49.
Qin, C. & Masutomo, T. (2013, 3 April 2013). Why Japan Dominates Leadership of Asian
Development Bank, https://www.cnbc.com/id/100614728
Qu, X. & Meng, Q. (2012). The Economic Importance of the Straits of Malacca and
Singapore: An Extreme-Scenario Analysis. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. National University of Singapore, pp 258-268. DOI:
10.1016/j.tre.2011.08.005.
Regoli, N. (2018, Jul 23). 17 Big Advantages and Disadvantages of Foreign Direct
Investment. Published in connect us Fund. https://connectusfund.org/17-big-advantages-
and-disadvantages-of-foreign-direct-investment.
RIS, ERIA, IDE JETRO (2017). Asia Africa Growth Corridor Partnership for Sustainable
and Innovative Development. African Development Bank Meeting. Ahmedabad (India). pp
1-16.
Robinson, D. (2010). Why the West Should Discourage Japanese Military Expansion.
Journal of Asia Pacific Studies, 1(2), 1-314.
Rossiter, A. (2018). The Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy and Japan’s Emerging
Security Posture. Institute of International & Civil Security, 3(2), 113-131.
Runde, D. & McKeown, S. (2019). The Asian Development Bank: A Strategic Asset for the
United States. Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS).
https://www.csis.org/analysis/asian-development-bank-strategic-asset-united-States.
Sadria, M. (2008). Japan, America and East Asia. Journal of Foreign Policy, 22(4), 1057-
1080.[in Persian].
Sazmand, B., & Ramezani, A. (2018). China and Japan, Two Rival Trans-Regional
Initiatives in Asia-Pacific. Journal of World Politics, 7(1), 80-51. [in Persian].
Shinzo, A. (2013). Opening Statement. First Meeting. The Ministerial Meeting on Strategy
Relating Infrastructure Export and Economic Cooperation. Prime Minister of Japan and
His Cabinet Homepage. https://japan.kantei.go.jp/
96_abe/actions/201303/13kki_kaigi_e.html.
Siripala, T. (2018, December 26). Japan’s Defense Budget Swells to Counter China’s
Growing Military Threat. The Diplomat. https://thediplomat.com/2018/12/
japans-defense-budget-swells-to-counter-chinas-growing-military-threat/.
Soderberg, M. (2005). Changes in Japan’s Foreign and Security Policy. European institute
of Japanese Studies (EIJS), pp 1-9.
Tessman, B. & Wolfe, W. (2011). Great Powers and Strategic Hedging: The Case of
Chinese Energy Security Strategy. International Studies Review, 13(2), pp 214-240, DOI:
10.1111/j.1468-2486.2011.01022.x.
Walt, S. M. (1997). Why Alliances Endure or Collapse. Survival: Global Politics and
Strategy, 39(1), pp 156-179, DOI: 10.1080/00396339708442901.
Waltz, K. (1979). International Political Theory. (R, Talebi Arani, Trans.): Mokhatab
Publishing. [in Persian].
West, J. (2020). The China-Japan Economic Relationship Is Getting Stronger. Brink the
Edge of Risk. https://www.brinknews.com/the-china-japan-economic-relationship-is-
getting-stronger/.
Wong, C. (2020). US-China Rivalry: is the Quad on Track to Take on Beijing. South China
Morning post. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/
3104571/us-china-rivalry-quads-rise-serious-threat-beijings-security.
Wurf, H., Pryke, J. & Annmaree, O. A. (2017). Strengthening the Asian Development Bank
in 21st century Asia. Lowy Institute. Australia. pp 1-78. Citable URI:
http://hdl.handle.net/11540/7089.
)
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