Kishida — 9DASHLINE

Southeast Asia’s security partnerships stronger and more diverse at the end of 2023

Written by Hunter Marston

Japan has emerged as a critical partner of choice for Southeast Asian countries, particularly in its efforts to build maritime and coast guard capacity for frontline states in the South China Sea, including the Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

2023: Where is Japan headed under Kishida?

9DASHLINE invited a select group of experts to assess how the Kishida administration’s policies on domestic, international, economic, and security issues will differ from the Abe administration.

Pacific9DLJanuary 20, 20239dashline, 2023: Where is Japan under Kishida headed?, DR JAMES D. BROWN, James DJ Brown, DR EVA PEJSOVA, EVA PEJSOVA, DR ELLI-KATHARINA POHLKAMP, ELLI-KATHARINA POHLKAMP, DR STEPHEN NAGY, Stephen Nagy, Japan, Fumio Kishida, Kishida, Abe, Shinzo Abe, Abe administration, approval ratings, Kishida administration, Abenomics, stimulatory economic policy, Japanese military, scandals, nepotism, free-market, new capitalism, security reforms, defence spending, strike missiles, public mood, dovish approach, foreign affairs, security affairs, Russia-Ukraine war, China’s expansionism, China, rules-based international order, US allies, security ties, deterrence, defence budget, nuclear non-proliferation, Taiwan, hostile security environment, geopolitical shocks, party politics, defence posture, Liberal Democratic Party, LDP, Chinese market, Unification Church investigations, National Security Strategy, G7 presidency, UN Security Council non-permanent seat, Tokyo, Sino-US rivalry, Yoshida Doctrine, US-Japan alliance, Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, CPTPP, Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement, EPA, Free and Open Indo-Pacific Vision, FOIP, strategic imperatives, domestic reform

Japan-Russia relations: Stronger stance needed on energy imports

Written by James DJ Brown

The Kishida administration’s record since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is impressive, especially compared to Abe’s pandering to Putin. Yet Japan needs to go one step further by rapidly cutting imports of Russian gas.

Faultlines9DLOctober 7, 20229DashLine, Stronger stance needed on energy imports: Japan-Russia relations, James DJ Brown, Japan, Russia, Russian aggression, Russia-Ukraine war, G7, energy, Putin, Kishida, Crimea annexation, Shinzo Abe, solidarity, Russian economy, territorial dispute, eight-point economic cooperation plan, General Oleg Salyukov, Salyukov, Fumio Kishida, Ukraine, international law, China, Kishida government, shinryaku, sanctions, sanctions package, Russian energy, coal and gas imports, expelling diplomats, fiscal support, non-lethal equipment, overseas transfer of defence equipment, Ukrainian refugees, Tokyo, Moscow, Nikolai Patrushev, Russophobes, Kuril Islands, Southern Kurils, military activities, live-fire drills, Vostok-2022 exercises, Defence Minister Hamada Yasukazu, Yasukazu Hamada, strategic bombers, warships, Sergey Lavrov, Federal Security Service, FSB, Zelensky, Minister for Economic Cooperation with Russia, LNG, liquified natural gas, hydrocarbons, energy security, Hagiuda Koichi, gas imports, Russian gas

NATO and the ‘Asia-Pacific Four’: Renewed purpose for cooperation

Written by Alexandra Sakaki

NATO has not only increased its attention to Asian security dynamics and challenges over the past years, but it has also sought to strengthen relations with the AP4 countries.

Japan-Russia: The end of delusions

Written by Céline Pajon

Faced with the paralysis of the UN Security Council (UNSC), for instance, Tokyo condemned Russian actions and called for reform of this body. As part of this reform, the number of UNSC permanent members would increase, with a seat for Japan.

Japan’s strategic policies under the current global order

Written by Elli Pohlkamp

This behaviour of inactivity and standing on the sidelines has changed now, driven by the concern that one day Japan might need help from its Western alliance partners should the security situation around Japan change.

Pacific9DLApril 7, 20229dashline, Elli Pohlkamp, Japan, Tokyo, Shinzo Abe, Fumio Kishida, Russia, Moscow, Ukraine, Putin, China, Beijing, Xi Jinping, Rules based Order, NATO, EU, energy security, Northern Territories, UN Charter, Sanctions, East China Sea, South China Sea, Taiwan Strait, Sino-Russian, Tsugaro Strait, LNG, Free and Open Indo-Pacific, FOIP, United States, US, ASEAN, Australia, India, CPTPP, RCEP, EPA, Economic Partnership Agreement, Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, QUAD, National Security Strategy, NSS, National Defense Program Guidelines, NDPG, Medium Term Defense Force Buildup, MTDP, 2+2, indonesia, France, Reciprocal Access Agreement, RAA, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, LDP, G7, Japan’s strategic policies under the current global order, Free and open Indo-Pacific, Indo-Pacific, UN, United Nations, Taiwan, Europe, European, European Union, Quad, Medium Term Defense Force Buildup Program, Kishida, Prime Minister Abe, European Council on Foreign Relations, ECFR

An enduring crisis: Assessing the state of Japan’s North Korea policy

Written by Sebastian Maslow

With the US pushing its agenda of ‘integrated deterrence’ in Asia and North Korea testing new missiles, pressure on Japan to obtain capabilities to strike enemy bases will likely gain further momentum.

Pacific9DLDecember 9, 20219DASHLINE, Sebastian Maslow, North Korea, Japan, Tokyo, Pyongyang, LDP, DPRK, Korean Peninsula, Axis of Evil, Northeast Asia, Article 9, Human Rights, Abe, ballistic missile defence, F-35, Aegis Ashore, Aegis, PAC-3, integrated deterrence, Kishida

Japan’s climate policy in light of COP26

Written by Florentine Koppenborg

There is a striking disconnect between Japan’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets on the one hand and the energy strategy adopted to achieve them. An important step would be to reduce Japan’s reliance on coal, the single biggest cause of climate change.