Since the new leadership of Japan has taken office, it has been historic in several ways, one being that Japan has its first female prime minister, which is a notable point to acknowledge. However, it has also made history due to the language and messaging coming out of Japan that is causing its counterparts in the region to grumble.
Japan is seeking to amend and revise several of its core security strategies, many of which have been in place as a result of its actions during World War II. For years, right-wing governments in Japan have sought to revise many of the security penalties imposed on the nation that they feel hinder Japan’s defensive capabilities as well as its strategic power projection. This approach is not in accordance with the pacifist nature that was imposed on the country at the end of World War II.
Many left-wing forces in the country fear and have criticised the current government for what they see as a return to militarism. The government has defended itself by stating that the proposed revisions are intended to bolster defence and not to pursue aggressive action or influence expansion. However, this does not appear to be entirely the case, as many in the current government believe that Japan has both a right and a duty to emerge as a leader in Asia. They also believe that Japan needs to proactively expand its influence to counter what they perceive as Chinese expansion and infiltration.
Many of these actions and intentions are not new, as they were present in previous governments, most notably under the leadership of the late Prime Minister Abe, which itself saw a great deal of contention with both South Korea and China. Although Japan is an important security asset for the United States and many in the current government hold a pro-American stance, not all feel this way. There are some within the government and parliament who believe Japan functions as a vassal state and is not fully independent from what they view as their handler, the United States.
It is interesting to consider what will emerge from this contention, as China has already strongly rebuked Japan’s comments regarding the Taiwan situation. It will also be important to observe how the United States navigates this situation, especially as the Trump administration has shown little interest in spending large amounts of money abroad, including in Japan and South Korea. However, many with more traditional views in the U.S. have countered Trump and his allies on this issue, arguing that it is imperative for American security strategy to invest these funds in the deployment of bases and other military and intelligence capabilities.
BakuTiflis 