This study aims to identify the underlying factors that drive Japan's geopolitical perceptions and strategies in the 21st century. Japan's geopolitical perceptions and strategies are centered on strong Chinese deterrence, which is justified by the nee...
This study aims to identify the underlying factors that drive Japan's geopolitical perceptions and strategies in the 21st century. Japan's geopolitical perceptions and strategies are centered on strong Chinese deterrence, which is justified by the need to prevent threats to Japanese security, and emphasizes Japan's role and contribution to the international community. Specifically, it calls for strengthening Japan's unique and robust defense system, enhancing military cooperation with the United States, and strengthening solidarity with countries that share universal values. In particular, Japan introduces new geographic concepts such as the “free and open Indo-Pacific” and sees its mission as providing leadership in the region. In other words, universal values, which have emerged as an indispensable condition of Japan's geopolitical strategy, are presented as a means for Japan to continue to expand its strategic space for its own active interests, while at the same time being based on geopolitical interests and as a justification for deterring China. Moreover, the highly geopolitical strategy of applying universal values to the region to establish new regional boundaries and order inevitably presupposes the strengthening of Japan's own defense capabilities.