SOUTHEAST ASIA IN JAPAN’S INDO-PACIFIC STRATEGY FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF NEOREALISM (2007-2024)
Main Article Content
Abstract
The article contributes to clarifying the role of Southeast Asia in Japan’s Indo-Pacific Strategy through the lens of neorealism. The concept of the “Indo-Pacific” was first introduced by Japan in 2007 and was later formally articulated as a strategy under the title “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” (FOIP) in 2016. Within the FOIP framework, the relationship between Southeast Asia and Japan has shifted from a phase of liberal, development-oriented cooperation to one of defensive cooperation aimed at safeguarding national interests, as understood from a neorealist perspective. Based on this, the article argues that Southeast Asia is of vital importance to Japan’s realization of the
FOIP strategy.
Keywords
Indo-Pacific strategy, Japan, neorealism, Southeast Asia
Article Details
References
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Waltz, K. N. (2000). Structural Realism after the Cold War. International Security, 25(1), 5-41.
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Dao, M. H., & Le, H. H. (2013). Sổ tay Thuật ngữ Quan hệ Quốc tế [Handbook of International Relations Terminology]. National Political Publishing House.
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Green, M. (2022). Line of advantage: Japan’s grand strategy in the era of Abe Shinzō. Columbia University Press. https://doi.org/10.7312/gree20466
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Indo-Pacific, disappeared ‘strategy’ government modified to ‘concept’ (2018). Nikkei. https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXMZO37648990S8A111C1PP8000/
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Jimbo, K. (2021). Japan’s defense and security cooperation in Southeast Asia: Developing security networks, capacities, and institutions. In The Courteous Power (pp.54-72). University of Michigan Press.
Koga, K. (2019). Japan’s “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” strategy: Tokyo’s tactical hedging and the implications for ASEAN. Contemporary Southeast Asia, 41(2), 286-313.
Koga, K. (2021). Wedge strategies, Japan-ASEAN cooperation, and the making of EAS: Implications for Indo-Pacific institutionalization. In The Courteous Power: Japan and Southeast Asia in the Indo-Pacific Era (pp.73-96). University of Michigan Press. https://doi.org/10.3998/mpub.11859489
Madan, T. (2017). The rise, fall, and rebirth of the ‘Quad’. War on the Rocks. https://warontherocks.com/2017/11/rise-fall-rebirth-quad/
Mearsheimer, J. J. (2001). The tragedy of Great Power politics. Norton Press.
Mearsheimer, J. J. (2018). The great delusion: Liberal dreams and international realities. Yale University Press.
Ministry of Defense (MOD) (2016). Japan’s defense capacity building assistance. https://www.mofa.go.jp/files/000146830.pdf
MOD. (n.d.). Capacity building assistance. https://www.mod.go.jp/j/approach/exchange/cap_build
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) (2011). 14th ASEAN-Japan summit (Overview). https://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/jfpu/2011/11/1118-02.html
MOFA (2015). Announcement of “Partnership for quality infrastructure: Investment for Asia’s future”. https://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/oda/page18_000076.html
MOFA (2017). Diplomatic Bluebook 2017. https://www.mofa.go.jp/fp/pp/page22e_000817.html
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MOFA (2020b). Japan-ASEAN Connectivity Initiative. https://www.mofa.go.jp/files/100114591.pdf
MOFA (2021). Diplomatic Bluebook 2021. https://www.mofa.go.jp/fp/pp/page22e_000932.html
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MOFA (2023c). New plan for a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)” https://www.mofa.go.jp/files/100477660.pdf
MOFA (2023d). Opinion poll on Japan in ASEAN countries 2023. https://www.mofa.go.jp/files/100635560.pdf
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MOFA (2023g). Signing and exchanging of notes for official security assistance (OSA) to Malaysia. https://www.mofa.go.jp/fp/nsp/pageite_000001_00050.html
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Nguyen, T. T., & Le, T. N. (2022). Vai trò trung tâm của ASEAN trong cạnh tranh quyền lực giữa Trung Quốc và Mĩ ở Đông Nam Á [ASEAN's central role in power competition between China and the US in Southeast Asia]. VNUHCM Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 6(1), 1432-1442. https://doi.org/10.32508/stdjssh.v6i1.702
Ōba, M. (2018). Indo-Pacific: From Japan’s Perspective. The Journal of International Security, 46(3), 12-32. https://doi.org/10.57292/kokusaianzenhosho.46.3_12
Ōba, M. (2023). Japan and ASEAN: Partners for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific in an era of uncertainty. Nippon. https://www.nippon.com/en/in-depth/a09401/
Qiao-Franco, G., Karmazin, A., & Kolmaš, M. (2024). The Indo-Pacific and the next phase of ASEAN centrality. Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs, 18681034241307658. https://doi.org/10.1177/18681034241307658
Satake, T., & Sahashi, R. (2021). The rise of China and Japan’s ‘Vision’ for Free and Open Indo-Pacific. Journal of Contemporary China, 30(127), 18-35. https://doi.org/10.1080/10670564.2020.1766907
Savage, R. (2023). China spent $240 billion bailing out “Belt and Road” countries. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/markets/china-spent-240-bln-bailing-out-belt-road-countries-study-2023-03-27/
Storey, I. (2013). Japan’s maritime security interests in Southeast Asia and the South China Sea dispute. Political Science, 65(2), 135-156. https://doi.org/10.1177/0032318713508482
Tang, S. M. (2018). ASEAN’s tough balancing act. Asia Policy, 13(4), 48-52.
Tomotaka, S. (2021). “Belt and Road” vs. “Free and Open Indo-Pacific”: Competition over Regional Order and ASEAN’s Responses. Security & Strategy, 1, 3-24. https://www.nids.mod.go.jp/english/publication/security/pdf/2021/01/04.pdf
Tran, N. T. (2012). Chiến lược” Chuỗi ngọc trai” và mục tiêu trở thành cường quốc biển của Trung Quốc trong thế kỉ XXI [China’s String of Pearls and strategy to become a maritime power in the 21st century]. Chinese Studies, 1(125), 64-80.
Vo, X. V. (2023). Đông Nam Á với Quad nhìn từ Tầm nhìn ASEAN về Ấn Độ Dương-Thái Bình Dương [Southeast Asia and the Quad from the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific]. [In National Scientific Conference of Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) in the security structure of the Indo-Pacific region] (pp.291-308). Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City Publishing House
von Borzyskowski, I., & Vabulas, F. (2019). Hello, goodbye: When do states withdraw from international organizations? The Review of International Organizations, 14(2), 335-366. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11558-019-09352-2
Waltz, K. N. (1979). Theory of International Politics. Addison-Wesley Publishing Company.
Waltz, K. N. (2000). Structural Realism after the Cold War. International Security, 25(1), 5-41.
World Bank. (2020). Unlocking the Potential of Lao-China Rail Connectivity. https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/648271591174002567/pdf/Main-Report.pdf