FROM COUNTERBALANCING TO ENGAGING CHINA: SHIFT IN JAPAN’S APPROACH TOWARDS THE NEW INTERNATIONAL ORDER IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC UNDER THE SECOND ABE ADMINISTRATION
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  • FROM COUNTERBALANCING TO ENGAGING CHINA: SHIFT IN JAPAN’S APPROACH TOWARDS THE NEW INTERNATIONAL ORDER IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC UNDER THE SECOND ABE ADMINISTRATION

FROM COUNTERBALANCING TO ENGAGING CHINA: SHIFT IN JAPAN’S APPROACH TOWARDS THE NEW INTERNATIONAL ORDER IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC UNDER THE SECOND ABE ADMINISTRATION

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12775/TIS.2019.009

Keywords

Japan, China, Asia-Pacific, Abe Shinzō, Japan–US alliance, Belt and Road Initiative

Abstract

Since returning to the post of prime minister in 2012, Abe Shinzō has been promoting Japan’s active posture in maintaining international stability in the Asia-Pacific. Abe’s vision of the new international order in the region has been based on Tokyo’s alliance with Washington, both in the security and economic spheres. Through legalization of Japan’s participation in collective self-defense pacts and revision of the Guidelines for Japan–US Defense Cooperation in 2015, Abe strengthened the Japan–US alliance. In parallel, he promoted Japan’s participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which however was realized as Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership without the Trump administration’s participation. In addition, Tokyo has been negotiating Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), Japan–China–Republic of Korea Trilateral Free Trade Agreement, and Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific. The article argues that while initially the Japanese prime minister’s regional initiatives were aimed at counterbalancing China’s rise, they gradually started putting more emphasis on engaging China in international cooperation. Applying a neoclassical-realist methodology, this study examines both the international and the domestic determinants of Japan’s shift in approach towards the new international order.

Author Biography

Karol Żakowski, University of Lodz

Karol Żakowski, PhD (2010) and habilitation (2016) in political science, is an Associate Professor at the Department of Asian Studies, Faculty of International and Political Studies, University of Lodz. He specializes in decision-making process and foreign policy of Japan. He was a visiting scholar at the Kwansei Gakuin University (2008-2009), Keio University (2012-2013), National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (2016), and University of Tokyo (2019). His recent monographs include: Decision-Making Reform in Japan: The DPJ’s Failed Attempt at a Politician-Led Government (Routledge 2015) and Japan’s Foreign Policy Making: Central Government Reforms, Decision-Making Processes, and Diplomacy (co-authored, Springer 2018).

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Published

2019-12-28

How to Cite

1.
ŻAKOWSKI, Karol. FROM COUNTERBALANCING TO ENGAGING CHINA: SHIFT IN JAPAN’S APPROACH TOWARDS THE NEW INTERNATIONAL ORDER IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC UNDER THE SECOND ABE ADMINISTRATION. Torun International Studies [online]. 28 December 2019, T. 1, nr 12, s. 143–155. [accessed 20.1.2022]. DOI 10.12775/TIS.2019.009.

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 12 (2019)

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Articles

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