Prime Minister Kishida Fumio's “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” Initiative: Japan silently refines its strategic nature

Abstract

AbstractIn March 2023, Prime Minister Kishida Fumio announced “Japan’s New Plan for a ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP).’” Prior to this, in December 2022, the Kishida Cabinet revised the National Security Strategy and adopted the National Defense Strategy. The new National Security Strategy officially positioned the FOIP as a fundamental component of Japan’s security strategy. Furthermore, the Kishida Cabinet has presented the New Plan as the first comprehensive outline of the specific policies that Japan will pursue under the initiative. The New Plan contains “four pillars of cooperation” with a total of 51 policies. Despite the expanded scope of security policies, the Kishida Cabinet emphasizes the diplomatic nature of the initiative, highlighting various agendas for cooperation in the region. This article illustrates how Prime Minister Kishida silently maintains and refines the strategic nature of the initiative with the New Plan in response to the growing presence and influence of China in the Indo-Pacific region. Notes1 The Abe, Suga, and Kishida administrations have collectively referred to Japan’s strategy for the Indo-Pacific region as the “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” strategy, the “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” initiative, and the “Free and Open Indo-Pacific,” as well as simply the “FOIP.” In this article, the series of strategies will be referred to as the “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” initiative. However, when the Prime Minister uses a specific term such as “strategy” in his speeches or summit meetings, the article uses that term.2 Teruaki Aizawa, “Gaimusho HP kara Yomitoku ‘Jiyu de Hirakareta Indo-Taiheiyo Senryaku (FOIP)’ no Rinen to Jissen [The Philosophy and Practice of the ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy (FOIP)’ decoded from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Website],” the Ocean Policy Research Institute, the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, July 30, 2018, https://www.spf.org/oceans/global-data/20181116181023949.pdf (English); Teruaki Aizawa, “Sonogo no ‘Jiyu de Hirakareta Indo-Taiheiyo Senryaku (FOIP)’ no Hensen to Tenkai [Subsequent Changes and Developments of the Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy (FOIP)],” the Ocean Policy Research Institute, the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, June 15, 2019, https://www.spf.org/oceans/analysis_ja02/post_20190621-copy.html; Saori Katada, “Indo-Taiheiyo Koso to Dochiiki no Keizai Renkei [The Indo-Pacific Initiative and Economic Partnerships in the Region],” Kokusai Mondai [International Affairs], vol. 687 (December 2019), 25-36, https://www2.jiia.or.jp/kokusaimondai_archive/2010/2019-12_004.pdf?noprint; Kei Koga, “Japan’s ‘Indo-Pacific’ question: countering China or shaping a new regional order” International Affairs vol.96, no. 1 (January 2020): 49-73, Kei Koga, “Japan’s ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific’ Strategy: Tokyo’s Tactical Hedging and the Implications for ASEAN,’ Contemporary Southeast Asia, vol. 41, no. 2 (August 2019):286-313; Narushige Michishita, “Japan’s Grand Strategy for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific,” in The Oxford Handbook of Japanese Politics, eds. 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Pekkanen (New York: Oxford University Press, 2021), 495-513; Mie Oba, “Nihon no ‘indo-taiheiyo’ koso [‘Indo-Pacific’: from Japan’s perspective],” Kokusai Anzenhosho [Journal of International Security], vol. 46, no. 3 (December 2018), 12-32; Hiroshi Nakanishi, “Nihon Gaiko ni okeru ‘Jiyu de Hirakareta Indo-Taiheiyo’ [‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific’ in Japanese Diplomacy],” Gaiko [Diplomacy], vol. 52 (December 2018), 12-19; Tomohiko Satake and Ryo Sahashi, “The Rise of China and Japan’s ‘Vision’ for Free and Open Indo-Pacific,” Journal of Contemporary China, (2021) 30:127, 18-35; Yoshihide Soeya, “Nihon no Indo-Taiheiyo Gaiko to Kinrin Gaiko [Japan’s Indo-Pacific Diplomacy and Neighborhood Diplomacy],” Kokusai Mondai [International Affairs], vol. 688 (January-February 2020), 18-32; Harukata Takenaka, “‘Jiyu de Hirakareta Indo-Taiheiyo’ Koso to Nihon no Tochi Kiko [‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific’ and Japanese Governance Structure],” in Harukata Takenaka (ed.), “Kyokoku Chugoku” to Taijisuru Indo-Taiheiyo Shokoku [Indo-Pacific Nations facing China aspiring to be a “Great Country”], Chikura Publishing Company, 2022, 97-138.3 Michishita, “Japan’s Grand Strategy for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific”; 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He holds a PhD from Stanford University and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Tokyo. His key research areas are the role of the prime minister in Japanese politics, changes in Japanese external policy, and democratization in Pre-war Japan.His recent publications include: “Kyokoku Chugoku” to Taijisuru Indo-Taiheiyo Shokoku [Indo-Pacific Nations facing China aspiring to be a “Great Country”](edited) (Tokyo: Chikura Publishing Company, 2022), “Evolution of Japanese security policy and the House of Councillors,” Japanese Journal of Political Science, 22:2 (2021): 96-115; Korona Kiki no Seiji [Politics of Covid 19 Crisis](Tokyo: Chuokoron-Shinsha, Inc., 2020), “Expansion of the Japanese prime minister’s power in the Japanese parliamentary system: Transformation of Japanese politics and the institutional reforms,” Asian Survey, 59:5(2019):844-869; Failed Democratization in Prewar Japan (Stanford University Press 2014), and Sangiin to wa nani ka [What Is the House of Councillors?] (Chuokoron-Shinsha, Inc., 2010), winner of the Osaragi Jirō Rondan Prize.