BIỂN ĐÔNG TRONG LỢI ÍCH CHIẾN LƯỢC CỦA NHẬT BẢN NHỮNG THẬP NIÊN ĐẦU THẾ KỶ XXI

Abstract

Amid growing concerns over China’s militarization activities and unilateral sovereignty claims in the South China Sea, Japan has strengthened its presence in the region to safeguard maritime security and uphold a rules-based international order. Since the tenure of Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, Japan has advanced the “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” (FOIP) strategy, recognizing the South China Sea as a critical maritime artery and a strategic nexus connecting various geopolitical spaces. Japan's core interests in the South China Sea include ensuring the freedom of navigation and overflight, maintaining regional stability, and counterbalancing China's expanding influence. To achieve these objectives, Tokyo has intensified security cooperation with Southeast Asian countries through initiatives such as capacity-building support for maritime patrols, joint military exercises, defense assistance, and the promotion of strategic dialogues. Concurrently, Japan has expanded its coordination with like-minded partners such as the United States, Australia, and India through multilateral frameworks like the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD). In the early decades of the 21st century, Japan has evolved from a passive observer to an active shaper of the regional security environment, underscoring its emerging role as a proactive middle power in the South China Sea.