The Role of Japan in the US Strategy for the Indo-Pacific Region Under President Joe Biden
Keywords:
Japan; US; Indo-Pacific; President Joe Biden; Realism
Abstract
This article analyzes Japan’s role in the US’ Indo-Pacific strategy under President Joe Biden’s administration from the perspective of realist theory. In the context of intensifying US-China strategic competition and the rise of the Indo-Pacific region as a global geopolitical focal point, Japan’s role as a key US ally has become increasingly important in shaping the regional security space and order led by Washington. The research results show that Japan plays a pivotal role for the US in balancing power and preventing the Russia-China alliance from restructuring the security space in Northeast Asia in particular and the Indo-Pacific in general. Finally, the article concludes that Japan’s active participation has made a significant contribution to maintaining a rules-based regional order while enhancing both Japan’s and the US’s positions in the region.
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Butfoy, Andrew. 1997. “The Security Dilemma”. In: Common Security and Strategic Reform. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-25531-3_2.
Fulton, Jonathan , Sim, Li-chen & Samaan, Jean-Loup. 2023. “Gulf states and the Indo-Pacific: agents or objects of geopolitical competition?” Journal of the Indian Ocean Region, 19(1), 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1080/19480881.2023.2261206.
Hong, Dao Minh & Hiep, Le Hong. 2014. “International Relations Terminology”. National Political Publishing House, Hanoi.
Hughes, Christopher W. 2022. “Japan as a Global Military Power: New Capabilities, Alliance Integration, Bilateralism-Plus”. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Kaufman, Joyce P. 2017. “The US perspective on NATO under Trump: lessons of the past and prospects for the future”. International Affairs, 93(2), 251-266. https://doi.org/10.1093/ia/iix009.
Koga, Kei. 2024. “Tactical hedging as coalition-building signal: The evolution of Quad and AUKUS in the Indo-Pacific”. The British Journal of Politics and International Relations. https://doi.org/10.1177/13691481241227840.
Meyer zum Felde, Rainer. 2022. “What a Military Alliance Between Russia and China Would Mean for NATO”. In: Kirchberger, S., Sinjen, S., Wörmer, N. (eds) Russia-China Relations. Global Power Shift. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-97012-3_13.
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O’Shea, Paul & Maslow, Sebastian. 2024. “Rethinking change in Japan’s security policy: punctuated equilibrium theory and Japan’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine”. Policy Studies, 45(304), 653-676. https://doi.org/10.1080/01442872.2024.2309218.
Rachman, Gideon. 2024. “Japan doubles down on the US alliance as China looms”. Accessed on August 29, 2024 (https://www.ft.com/content/b155a989-0e43-4fb2-9326-f44c3abcf24e).
Rose, Gideon. 1998. “Neoclassical realism and theories of foreign policy”. World Politics, 51(1), 144-172. https://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0043887100007814.
Schwartz, Andrew H & Johnstone, Christopher B. 2022. “Japan’s New Defense Strategy”. Accessed on August 30, 2024 (https://www.csis.org/analysis/japans-new-defense-strategy).
Sent, Angela, Sun, Yun & Pita, Adrianna. 2024. “The dynamics of the Russia-China partnership”. Accessed on August 29, 2024 (https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-dynamics-of-the-russia-china-partnership/).
Solís, Mireya. 2019. “US-Japan Relations in the Trump Era: Navigating the Turbulence of ‘America First’“. SCIELO, 8(24). https://doi.org/10.32870/mycp.v8i24.669.
Sokolshchik, Lev M. 2024. “Year One of the Biden Administration: US Foreign Policy Towards Russia”. Journal of Eurasian Studies, 15(1), 70-80. https://doi.org/10.1177/18793665231170639.
Terry, Sue Mi & Boot, Max. 2023. “South Korea takes a brave step toward reconciliation with Japan”. Accessed on August 30, 2024 (https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/03/07/south-korea-japan-forced-labor-rapprochement/).
Tien, Le Cong & Trang, Huyen Tran. 2023. “US Foreign Policy under the Joe Biden Administration and Its Impacts on International Relations”. National Political Publishing House, Hanoi.
US Department of Defense. 2023. “Japan, South Korea, US Strengthen Trilateral Cooperation”. Accessed on September 2, 2024 (https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3498451/japan-south-korea-us-strengthen-trilateral-cooperation/).
Walt, Stephen M & Belfer, Renée A. 2017. “Great Powers Are Defined by Their Great Wars”. Accessed on September 2, 2024 (https://foreignpolicy.com/2017/09/21/great-powers-are-defined-by-their-great-wars/).
Wei, Zongyou. 2022. “The evolution of the ‘QUAD’: driving forces, impacts, and prospects”. China International Strategy Review, 4(2), 288-304. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42533-022-00119-w.
Walt, Stephen M. 1985. “Alliance Formation and the Balance of World Power”. International Security, 9(4), 3-43. https://www.jstor.org/stable/2538540.
White House. 2021. “US - Japan Joint Leaders’ Statement: US - Japan global partnership for a new era”. Accessed on September 1, 2024 (https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/04/16/u-s-japan-joint-leaders-statement-u-s-japan-global-partnership-for-a-new-era/).
White House. 2024. “US - Japan Joint Leaders’ Statement”. Accessed on September 1, 2024 (https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/04/10/united-states-japan-joint-leaders-statement/).
Published
2024-10-09
How to Cite
Cong, T. A. (2024). The Role of Japan in the US Strategy for the Indo-Pacific Region Under President Joe Biden. International Journal of Social Science Research and Review, 7(10), 27-36. https://doi.org/10.47814/ijssrr.v7i10.2362
Section
Main Articles
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