Japan is the US's Asian cornerstone

by Berndt Grundevik

In a very dynamic region with the presence of strong players such as China, the United States, South Korea, Russia and Taiwan, Japan, with its 127 million inhabitants, is an economic powerhouse and in that role the world's third largest economy.

In addition to economic dynamism, the extensive conventional forces and nuclear weapons of the major players (USA, China, Russia) also contribute to the security-related complexity that the region exhibits. The US Pacific Doctrine from 2012 (“Pacific rebalancing”), primarily the stationing of more naval resources in the Pacific region, contributes to further underscoring the strategic importance of the region.

Japan ranks as the world's fourth largest exporter (engineering products, vehicles, electronics, chemicals) and the world's fourth largest importer. The country is heavily dependent on imports for its raw material supply and imports large quantities of oil and natural gas from the Persian Gulf and is the largest buyer of coal from Australia. Only 40% of its food needs are produced domestically and the rest must be imported.

After Japan's unconditional surrender in 1945, the United States effectively took charge of the country's reconstruction. Three clear goals were formulated:

• Reconstruct Japan politically and militarily.
• Create economic development.
• Establish a peace treaty and a bilateral security pact with the United States.

Security and defense policy
The cornerstone of Japanese foreign and security policy is the bilateral security agreement with the United States. This was originally concluded in 1951 but took its current form in 1960. The American military presence, US Forces Japan (USFJ), currently amounts to approximately 55 soldiers/sailors stationed in the country. The American troop presence is generally accepted but controversial in some quarters, particularly on the island of Okinawa.

In 2013, a decision was made on a new national security strategy (political, diplomatic and military orientation). Regarding the Japanese Armed Forces, the orientation was that development should generally focus on a more “joint” structure, better readiness, better sustainability and better flexibility. The defense budget is approximately 400 billion Swedish kronor, which is approximately 0.9% of GDP.

Japan's defense (Self Defense Forces) consists of approximately 250 soldiers/sailors, and there is a clear trend to prioritize the development of naval capabilities (including surface combat capabilities and amphibious capabilities in the form of a marine brigade) and air defense capabilities. Material acquisitions include new Joint Strike Fighter F 000, submarines, destroyers, missile defense systems and the AWACS system is being upgraded.

Tense neighborly relations
China's military buildup and increasing influence in the region are the main security policy challenges for Japan. The territorial issue of the Senkaku Islands has proven increasingly problematic in recent years.

Japan has no diplomatic relations with North Korea. North Korean nuclear and missile tests in recent years have caused great concern in Japan. Against this background, with support from the United States, missile defense is being expanded, primarily against intermediate-range ballistic missiles, which are estimated to have a range of 1500 km and may be operational (although only a few) in 2016.

Relations with South Korea are strained, mainly due to history (Korea was a Japanese colony from 1910 to 1945) and an infected territorial dispute over the islands of Takeshima/Dokdo.

Relations with Russia are "balanced", mainly based on well-developed economic cooperation in the Russian Far East in the energy and transport sectors. The territorial dispute resulting from the Soviet Union's occupation of an island group north of Hokkaido at the end of World War II, the so-called Northern Territories, remains unresolved and has prevented the countries from concluding a formal peace treaty.

The geography of the world is often viewed from a north/south perspective. During my visit to Japan in the fall of 2014 and during conversations with the Japanese army chief and the head of US Forces Japan, the discussion was enriched by the fact that strategic geography was viewed from a west/east perspective.

The map above shows China's need for free maritime transport connections, which creates major challenges for Beijing, as Japan acts as a "geographical barrier" and in practice channels Chinese maritime transport in three possible directions, which are also difficult to protect.

The Korean War of 1950–1953 clearly demonstrated Japan's importance as a "stepping stone" to the Korean Peninsula and the Asian mainland. A strategic reality for the United States based on opportunities for trade, basing of military resources, surveillance and advanced missile defense.

The security policy trend clearly shows that the importance of the region and the struggle for economic development and markets is increasing. It is from this reality that one should view the general military buildup in the entire region and Japan's importance to the United States.