Japan’s Foreign Policy and Security Recalibrations 2018-23

Abstract

In an August 2023 interview, General Koji Yoshihide, Japan’s Chief of Staff, Joint Staff, stated that Japan’s military could not "currently maintain" Japan’s security "in the face of [the] evolving regional and global challenges." At the same time, following the Japanese government’s plan to double its spending on all national security-related matters to 2 percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2027, its Defence Ministry requested a record $52.67 billion for its 2024 budget, an increase of 13 percent from 2023. In line with this, Japan’s 2023 White Paper highlighted Chinese assertiveness, which is "seen as a break from Japan’s postwar policy limiting the use of force to self-defense." This policy reorientation, significant for a pacifist Japan, is indicative of the new geopolitical realities that require adaptation and a shift from the past.

This article examines why, despite its post-World War pacifist nature, Japan has been recalibrating its foreign policy strategies over the past few years. In doing so, the essay will highlight how Japan is being driven to recalibrate its foreign policy strategies to contend with, and adapt to, the increasing Chinese foreign policy assertiveness and military provocations in Northeast Asia. While China’s actions are not new and bilateral relations with Japan have been rocky in the past, developments over the past few years suggest a shift in Japan’s previous posture.