In 2024, Japan has developed a number of new defence-security partnerships with both the United States (US) and European actors. The most notable of these is the Trilateral Security Cooperation Framework (TSCF) between the US, Japan and South Korea, which was formalised on 28 July 2024.[i] This document also covers high-level policy consultations, information sharing and trilateral exercises between the parties. On the other hand, the European Union is also allegedly planning to establish defence partnerships with Japan and South Korea.[ii] Presently, the EU countries Germany, France and Italy have agreed to participate in joint military exercises with Japan in the summer of 2024.[iii]
The conceptualisation of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” was put forward by former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and defence-security policies in the region gained momentum in 2017 when the United States, India, Japan and Australia came together in the framework of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD). Since then, Western actors’ interest in the Indo-Pacific has intensified and bilateral, trilateral and quadrilateral defence-security dialogues with democratic actors such as Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand have started to increase. These four countries have come to be known as the Indo-Pacific Quartet (IP4) of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). Since 2022, these actors have participated in NATO’s leaders’ summit as guests.
As of 2019-2020, European actors, including the UK, have expanded joint naval exercises in the Indo-Pacific and sought to strengthen defence ties with countries in the region, including the Philippines, Vietnam and Australia. In this context, actors such as South Korea, Japan, the UK, France, France, Canada, the Netherlands and Germany, which can be classified within the Western World, have published strategy or defence documents on the Indo-Pacific or revised their existing policies. In this context, especially Japan has focused on Taiwan, China, North Korea and Russia as “regional security risks” in its defence strategies.
The US-China rivalry in the Asia-Pacific has a direct impact on the foreign and security policies of the actors in the region. The biggest impact of this is seen on Japan. According to the comments frequently voiced in recent years, Tokyo has abandoned its militarily pacifist structure and adopted a proactive defence approach. These preparations of Japan, which has developed innovative concepts and strategies such as active deterrence and integrated defence together with the US, have undoubtedly caused its neighbour China to be concerned. According to Beijing, Tokyo’s establishment of such military partnerships with Washington makes it an open target in a possible war.[iv]
Indeed, Japan’s defence-security cooperation, especially with the West, resembles the coalitions formed before the First and Second World Wars. The Cold War-era bloc politics is still evident today. Through its coalitions with the West, Japan constantly marginalises Russia, North Korea and China.
The Western World is creating new others for itself in the Asia-Pacific. These are: North Korea, China and Russia. Targeting these countries, the Western World establishes and develops naval exercises, intelligence sharing and other security co-operation in the Asia-Pacific.
In the face of these steps, China is trying to maintain strong relations with its neighbours, such as Japan and South Korea, which seek to marginalise it, and is implementing defence dialogue mechanisms to prevent a possible military confrontation. Japan, on the other hand, continues its security moves, such as a fighter jet development plan with the UK and Italy, more military exercises with European actors, strengthening joint defence coordination with the US, and signing Mutual Access Agreements (RAA) with states such as the Philippines, India, the UK and Australia.
Moreover, Tokyo plans to increase the share of defence expenditures in the budget to 2% in the next 5 years.[v] Indeed, since the Second World War, the country has allocated budgets ranging between 0.9% and 1.1% to defence. In fact, increasing defence spending to 2% is similar to the limits set by NATO. Therefore, it can be argued that the pressure from the United States was also effective in Japan’s pursuit of a more proactive policy in the field of defence.
As a result, Japan’s military co-operation with the West has become an important factor shaping both regional and global security dynamics. Under normal circumstances, these co-operations are part of a strategy to strengthen Japan’s national security and create a strategic balance in the international arena. At the same time, however, these moves also lead to a security dilemma. These co-operations, which were established to ensure regional security and stability, serve the Cold War mentality of polarization and zero-sum game. Japan has become a pioneer of these policies in the Asia-Pacific.
[i] “S. Korea, U.S., Japan ink document formalizing trilateral security cooperation”, Yonhap News Agency, https://m-en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20240728001851315?section=national/defense, (Access Date: 29.07.2024).
[ii] “EU eyes security, defense partnerships with Japan and South Korea”, Aisa Nikkei, https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/EU-eyes-security-defense-partnerships-with-Japan-and-South-Korea, (Access Date: 29.07.2024).
[iii] “Europe’s warplanes fly to Japan to keep an eye on Russia and China”, Politico, https://www.politico.eu/article/europes-air-forces-fly-to-japan-to-keep-an-eye-on-russia-and-china/, (Access Date: 29.07.2024).
[iv] “Enhanced US-Japan military alliance ‘puts Tokyo at front line of counterattacks’”, Global Times, https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202407/1316896.shtml, (Access Date: 29.07.2024).
[v] “Japan Set to Hike Defense Budget Amid Ongoing Tension in Region”, AA, https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/japan-set-to-hike-defense-budget-amid-ongoing-tension-in-region/2751777, (Access Date: 29.07.2024).
