Japan and U.S. in the Indo-Pacific region under the J. Biden administration

Occupation: Senior Researcher at the Center for Asia-Pacific Studies
Affiliation: Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations, Russian Academy of Sciences (IMEMO)
Address: 23, Profsoyuznaya str., Moscow, 117997, Russian Federation

Journal name

Problemy Dalnego Vostoka

Edition

Issue 1

Pages

40-52

Abstract

The article analyzes the approaches of the United States and Japan to the international political problems in the Indo-Pacific region at the beginning of the administration of the 46th President of the United States Joe Biden in 2021. It also aims to evaluate the perspectives of US-Japan cooperation in key areas. The article analyses the policies of the United States and Japan towards China. Japan supported J. Biden's approach to confront China on a wide range of issues. By actively involving in the US-China confrontation government in Tokyo aims to strengthen its position in rivalry with China. However, it will not be easy for Japan to preserve the achievements of the "warm" period in Japan-China relations in 2018-2020 in the economic and humanitarian spheres. The article also analyses the approaches of the US and Japan to the situation on the Korean Peninsula, including the prospects for cooperation between Tokyo, Washington and Seoul towards DPRK. Difficult-to-resolve contradictions between Tokyo and Seoul in a short-term perspective will hinder large-scale cooperation of the parties with Washington. The article also analyses the perspectives of the concept of "Free and open Indo-Pacific region". Tokyo which sees the concept of "Free and open Indo-Pacific region" as a response to the expansion of Beijing's influence in the region, is interested in developing economic cooperation with partners aimed at weakening dependence on China. The article also notes the increased importance of Japan in the United States’ Indo-Pacific strategy in the eyes of a number of American politicians and experts.

Keywords

USA, Japan, China, Republic of Korea, DPRK, Indo-Pacific region, alliance

Received

28.12.2021

Publication date

16.02.2022

Number of characters

27659

Cite

GOST	Voda K. Japan and U.S. in the Indo-Pacific region under the J. Biden administration // Problemy Dalnego Vostoka – 2022. – Issue 1 C. 40-52 [Electronic resource]. URL: https://pdv.jes.su/S013128120018308-9-1 (circulation date: 19.04.2024). DOI: 10.31857/S013128120018308-9
MLA	Voda, Kristina "Japan and U.S. in the Indo-Pacific region under the J. Biden administration." Problemy Dalnego Vostoka 1 (2022):40-52. DOI: 10.31857/S013128120018308-9
APA	Voda K. (2022). Japan and U.S. in the Indo-Pacific region under the J. Biden administration. Problemy Dalnego Vostoka (1), pp.40-52 DOI: 10.31857/S013128120018308-9

100 rub.

When subscribing to an article or issue, the user can download PDF, evaluate the publication or contact the author. Need to register.

Number of purchasers: 2, views: 657

Readers community rating: votes 0

1. 2021 Japan-U.S. Security Seminar. 04.03.2021. URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnBEte57cSg (accessed: 31.07.2021).

2. Brown D. Tihaya militarizaciya. Chto oznachaet dlya Rossii novaya oboronnaya politika Yaponii (Silent militarization. What does Japan's new defense policy mean for Russia?). Moscow Carnegie Center. 28.05.2021. URL: https://carnegie.ru/commentary/84629 (accessed: 22.07.2021). (In Russ.).

3. Che Chang. Japan is the New Leader of Asia’s liberal order. Foreign Affairs. 24.02.2021. URL: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/united-states/2021–02–24/japan-new-leader-asias-liberal-order (accessed: 30.07.2021).

4. Defense of Japan 2021. Japan Ministry of Defense. 13.07.2021. URL: https://www.mod.go.jp/en/article/2021/07/9795b1aa8822812ce65141c6304f5f0e922d962b.html#1 (accessed: 11.07.2021).

5. Fact Sheet: Quad Leaders’ Summit. The White House. 24.09.2021. URL: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/09/24/fact-sheet-quad-leaders-summit/ (accessed: 19.12.2021).

6. Igata A., Glosserman B. Japan is Indispensable Again. Foreign Affairs. 15.07.2021. URL: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/united-states/2021–07–15/japan-indispensable-again (accessed: 30.07.2021).

7. Interim National Security Strategic Guidance. March 2021. URL: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/NSC-1v2.pdf (accessed: 11.07.2021).

8. Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Free and Open Indo-Pacific Region. URL: https://www.mofa.go.jp/files/000430632.pdf (accessed: 19.12.2021).

9. Japan weighs Senkaku options as Chinese coast guard gets new power. Nikkei Asia. 02.04.2021. URL: https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Japan-weighs-Senkaku-options-as-Chinese-coast-guard-gets-new-power (accessed:16.07.2021).

10. Japan-Australia-India-U.S. Leaders’ Video Conference. Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 13.03.2021. URL: https://www.mofa.go.jp/fp/nsp/page1e_000310.html (accessed: 16.07.2021).

11. Japan-United States of America Relations. VIP visits and meetings. Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. URL: https://www.mofa.go.jp/region/n-america/us/index.html (accessed: 10.07.2021).

12. Joint Statement of the U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee (2+2). 16.03.2021. URL: https://www.mofa.go.jp/na/st/page3e_001112.html (accessed: 22.07.2021).

13. Kireeva A.A. Novaya istoricheskaya vekha v kitajsko-yaponskih otnosheniyah: naskol'ko gluboko «poteplenie» i chto za nim stoit? (A new historic milestone in Sino-Japanese relations: how deep is the "warming" and what is behind it?). Yaponskie issledovaniya. 2020. No. 1. (In Russ.).

14. Kistanov V.O. Indo-Tihookeanskaya strategiya Yaponii kak sredstvo sderzhivaniya Kitaya (Japan's Indo-Pacific Strategy as a Deterrent to China). Problemy Dal'nego Vostoka. 2018. No. 2. (In Russ.).

15. Kuz'minkov V.V. Yaponiya v uregulirovanii situacii na Korejskom poluostrove (Japan in resolving the situation on the Korean Peninsula). Aziya i Afrika segodnya. 2018. No. 12. (In Russ.).

16. Leksyutina Ya.V. Vyzov «vozvyshayushchegosya» Kitaya dlya Yaponii v kontekste normalizacii kitajsko-yaponskih otnoshenij v 2014–2018 gg. (Rising China's Challenge for Japan in the Context of Normalizing Sino-Japanese Relations in 2014–2018). Yaponskie issledovaniya. 2019. No. 3. (In Russ.).

17. Masuo C. The Coast Guard Law: China’s Readiness for a Maritime Military-Civil Fusion Strategy. AJIISS — Commentary. 30.04.2021. URL: https://www.jiia.or.jp/en/ajiss_commentary/the-coast-guard-law-chinas-readiness-for-a-maritime-military-civil-fusion-strategy.html (accessed: 29.07.2021).

18. Nacional'nye i mezhdunarodnye strategii na indo-tihookeanskom prostranstve: analiz i prognoz (National and International Strategies in the Indo-Pacific Space: Analysis and Forecast) / otv. red. V.V. Mikheev, V.G. Shvydko. M.: IMEMO RAN, 2020. (In Russ.).

19. Nelidov V.V. Voennaya politika Yaponii na sovremennom etape: motivaciya, zadachi, perspektivy (Military policy of Japan at the present stage: motivation, tasks, prospects). Problemy Dal'nego Vostoka. 2017. No. 4. (In Russ.).

20. Niquet V. Answering Beijin’s Growing Assertiveness beyond the Senkakus: Balancing Japan-China Relations. JIIA Policy Brief. 07.05.2021. URL: https://www.jiia-jic.jp/en/news/policy-brief-answering-beijings-growing-assertiveness-beyond-the-senkakus-balancing-japan-china-rela.html (accessed: 16.07.2021).

21. Panda A. Biden’s Next Steps on North Korea Contain a Dose of Realism. Carnegieendownmwnet.org. 06.05.2021. URL: https://carnegieendowment.org/2021/05/06/biden-s-next-steps-on-north-korea-contain-dose-of-realism-pub-84485 (accessed: 05.08.2021).

22. Panov A.N. Itogi aziatsko-tihookeanskoj politiki D.Trampa. 2017–2020 gg. (Results of the Asia-Pacific policy of D. Trump. 2017–2020). USA & Canada: ekonomika, politika, kul'tura. 2020. No. 50 (11). (In Russ.).

23. Quad' leaders pledge to counter China with billion-dose vaccine pact. The Japan Times. 13.03.2021. URL: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/03/13/national/politics-diplomacy/japan-quad-china/ (accessed: 22.12.2021).

24. Reito K. Japan can Shoot at Foreign Government Vessels Attempting to Land on Senkakus. The Japan Times. 25.02.2021. URL: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/02/25/national/senkakus-east-china-sea-japan-coast-guard-defense/ (accessed: 29.07.2021).

25. Reito K., Munehisa T. Japan’s additional Aegis ships could encourage further arms buildup. The Japan Times. 18.12.2020. URL: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/12/18/national/japans-aegis-encourage-arms-buildup/ (accessed: 05.08.2021).

26. Remarks by President Biden on America’s Place in the World. 04.02.2021. U.S. Department of State Headquarters. Washington D.C. URL: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2021/02/04/remarks-by-president-biden-on-americas-place-in-the-world/ (accessed: 10.07.2021)

27. Seligman L., Gramer R. Trump asks Tokyo to Quadruple Payments for U.S. Troops in Japan. Foreign Policy. 15.11.2019. URL: https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/11/15/trump-asks-tokyo-quadruple-payments-us-troops-japan// (accessed: 10.07.2021).

28. Solis M. The Underappreciated Power. Foreign Affairs. November/December 2020. URL: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/japan/2020–10–13/underappreciated-power (accessed: 30.07.2021).

29. The Virtues of a Confrontational China Strategy. The American Interest. 10.04.2020. URL: https://www.the-american-interest.com/2020/04/10/the-virtues-of-a-confrontational-china-strategy/ (accessed: 13.07.2021).

30. Trading Places: America, Japan and Regional Trade on the Chessboard. The Asia Chessboard Podcast. CSIS. 01.03.2021. URL: https://www.csis.org/podcasts/asia-chessboard (accessed: 31.07.2021).

31. U.S. — Japan Joint Leaders’ Statement. U.S.-Japan Global Partnership for a New Era. 16.04.2021. URL: 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/ (accessed: 14.07.2021).

32. US and allies to build 'China-free' tech supply chain. The Nikkei Asia. 24.02.2021. URL: https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Most-read-in-2021/US-and-allies-to-build-China-free-tech-supply-chain2 (accessed: 19.12.2021).

33. Voda K.R., Fedorovskij A.N. Trudnosti sovmeshcheniya prioritetov aziatskimi soyuznikami SShA (Difficulties in aligning priorities by the US Asian allies). Mirovaya ekonomika i mezhdunarodnye otnosheniya. 2017. No. 12. (In Russ.).

34. Voda K.R. Novaya epoha "Rejva" v Yaponii. Politicheskie zadachi (New era of "Reiwa" in Japan. Political objectives). Svobodnaya Mysl’. 2020. No. 1. (In Russ.).

35. Voda K.R. Yapono-kitajskie otnosheniya: na poroge holodnoj vojny? (Sino-Japanese Relations: On the Brink of the Cold War?). Mirovaya ekonomika i mezhdunarodnye otnosheniya. 2014. No. 10. (In Russ.).