DG ma’am 28.04.

23

Role of Japan

Q; discuss the role/ significance of Japan as an emerging power in global political system.

Ans. The world is facing the most significant and turbulent geo-political shift since the end of World
War 2. While the west is understandably focused on the war in Ukraine, far reaching adjustments of
military strength and influence are taking place in east-Asia. These changes not only herald a new
age in conflict and security but are part of a trend towards Asia’s pre-eminence in global politics.

Throughout the past three decades, China and USA have been the key countries influencing the
global geo-politics. The USA is for the foreseeable future the only western power on an equal footing
with China. There are several reasons why Japan could not emerge as a key factor in the changing
international order during the last three decades. Japan like Germany was a late comer in the game
of imperialism. It was concerned more about getting its share of over seas colonial position. Once it
started its empire building the vulnerability of its supply line of vital materials and resources was
exposed as a major threat and American embargo lead Japan to launch its attack on the US, thereby
initiating the pacific theatre of WW2. With the end of the World War 2 and the cold war, Japan
today faces shifting security challenges beyond its shores coupled with growing fears that China will
act against Taiwan. The principles of Japan’s security strategy seemed to be straight forward. It is a
country that had paid dearly for the folly of misguided imperialism. Its backbone was broken by the
first use of nuclear weapons in war. The most significant and unusual regulation of the constitution
of Japan is article 9 (till unamended) which aspires sincerely for an international peace based on
justice and order. The Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and
the threat of use of force as a means of settling international disputes. The pacifism of this noble
world however was never fully implemented in Japan’s political reality. Tokyo maintains a
respectable array of military weapons and self-defence forces numbering some 250000 personnel.
During the Persian Gulf war of 1990-91, Japan insisted on not sending military forces instead its
contribution to the USA lead to coalition came from billions of dollars in war financing. During the
Iraq war from 2003-11 Japan provided logistical and medical resources and bought a better deal.
And more recently with China’s growing hegemonic aspirations, Tokyo has realised that time has
changes and there is no longer space for a position of pacifist withdrawal. Japan is of the same view
as of Washington that Beijing together with other autocracies is leading a dangerous and
determined attack on the free world.

However the erratic foreign and security policy of president of president Donald trump created a
great upheaval in east Asia. President trump’s frequent complaints demanding greater contribution
to the common security of the region raised the question of whether Washington would provide
unconditional protection in a case of acute crisis.