Japan's subregional security and defence linkages with ASEANs, South Korea and China in the 1990s

Abstract

Abstract In the post‐cold war period, the security situation in the Asia‐Pacific region and in Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia is undergoing a transformation with the emergence for the first time of multilateral security dialogue. One of the most striking features of this transformation is Japan's new role as a sponsor of multilateral security dialogue in the early 1990s. Japanese policymakers are also working to create security and defence linkages with Asian nations at the subregional level. Evidence gathered from diverse sources reveals that the Japanese Defence Agency and Ministry of Foreign Affairs are experiencing varied success in extending these types of linkages to the ASEAN nations, South Korea and China. Linkages with the ASEAN nations have been slow to emerge but look set to progress further as suspicion lessens of Japan's role in Southeast Asian security, and as Japan's role in peacekeeping expands. Remarkable progress has been made between Japan and South Korea in establishing security and defence linkages, and the strategic uncertainties of the instability of North Korea and the commitment of the US to Northeast Asia look likely to push Japan and South Korea towards closer co‐operation on security matters. By contrast, Japan's repeated efforts to involve China in a closer dialogue on security have met with limited success, and immediate progress is hampered by the issues of missile and nuclear testing, Chinese attempts to intimidate Taiwan with military exercises in late 1995 and early 1996, and, more generally, the problem of ‘transparency’ in security relations. Indeed, the evidence from Japan's attempts to create subregional security and defence linkages suggests that the most crucial factor in the success of this policy is the existence of a degree of ‘transparency’ in relations between Japan and the ASEAN nations, South Korea and China.