Japan's Search for a Political Role in Southeast Asia

Summary

The end of the Cold War has opened a window of opportunity for Japan to play a larger political role in Southeast Asia. One view anticipates that Japan and China will fill the power vacuum in this region that resulted from the end of the Soviet presence in Indochina and the U.S. military withdrawal from the Philippines. A more likely scenario in Southeast Asia within the next two decades is the rise of a balance of power with a more confident and assertive China counterbalanced by a continued U.S. strategic presence, augmented by its ally, Japan. However, Tokyo's contribution to regional security in Southeast Asia will not be underpinned by a direct military presence but by a substantial economic and an increasing political role. This troika is operating in an area where many regional states have enjoyed impressive economic growth, progress in nation- building, enhanced military capabilities, the development and expansion of a regional grouping, ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), and a strong desire not to be dominated by any regional or extra-regional powers. Tokyo's post-Cold War attempts to exercise political initiatives in Southeast Asia are framed by its relationship with the United States and China, the favourable or negative outlook of the regional states to an increased Japanese role, and the domestic politics of Japan. The country seeks a higher political profile within the bilateral framework of the U.S.-Japan Alliance, and multilateral regional and international organizations. Such a non-unilateral approach is more acceptable to the United States, China, the Southeast Asian states and Japanese public opinion.

This article addresses the following questions. Why does Japan seek to be an increasingly important political actor in Southeast Asia? In what ways have the end of the Cold War directly or indirectly provided Tokyo the opportunities to play a regional political role? What political role is Japan adopting in the region? What are the domestic and international considerations to Tokyo's ambitions to play a larger political role in the region?

Japan's Search for a Political Role

Japanese ambitions to play a political role in Southeast Asia preceded the end of the Cold War and even before it emerged as a recognizable economic super-power in the early 1970s.