Editorial: In election, parties should discuss Japan's role in restoring rules-based order

The Mainichi

5 hours ago

With the return to power of U.S. President Donald Trump, who champions an America First policy, international order is being shaken, putting pressure on Japan to restructure its diplomatic and security policies. Each political party in Japan needs to present its strategy through debate in the upcoming House of Councillors election.
Postwar Japan has relied on U.S. deterrence for security, and achieved economic growth under a free trade system. However, the Trump administration views alliances as liabilities rather than assets, and the relationship that has been the linchpin of the alliance is creaking under the strain. Washington has imposed high tariffs on even allies and has also demanded increased defense spending.
The security environment surrounding Japan is becoming increasingly severe. China has continued with its military expansion, and is boosting its maritime advancements into the East and South China seas. Meanwhile, North Korea, which is accelerating its development of nuclear weapons and missiles, has formed a military alliance with Russia, which is continuing its war in Ukraine. The threat toward Japan is only increasing.
Strains in the Japan-U.S. alliance
A concern is that it remains uncertain just how much the U.S. aims to get involved in stabilizing East Asia. A U.S. Department of Defense spokesperson suggested that Asian allies, including Japan, should raise their defense-related spending to 5% of gross domestic product, similar to NATO member countries. Due to Russia's prolonged invasion of Ukraine, most European countries belonging to NATO have complied with U.S. requests.
Japan has decided to increase its defense spending to 2% of GDP by fiscal 2027. Both the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan have pledged to "fundamentally strengthen defense capabilities," but they have not provided a blueprint showing how far they intend to go.
Japan should not be preparing defense capabilities based on numerical targets in the first place. Rather, it is essential to first accurately assess the military capabilities and intentions of neighboring countries and identify threats. Strategies should then be developed to address these threats, and the necessary equipment and other items should be selected accordingly. Addressing personnel shortages in the Self-Defense Forces due to Japan's declining birth rate is another urgent matter.
Increasing defense spending could impact other policies like social security. There should be in-depth discussions about the appropriate scale relative to national strength.
In light of China's moves to increase military pressure, such as its deployment of two aircraft carriers in the Western Pacific, it is important to maintain deterrence. But rather than just strengthening defense capabilities, efforts need to be made to build a stable relationship with repeated talks so as not to heighten tensions.
Negotiations between Tokyo and Washington over high tariffs have cast a shadow over Japan's upper house election. Trump's approach not only undermines Japan's national interests but also threatens to disrupt global supply chains for goods and services. A strategy to uphold the free trade system is necessary.
The European Union is cooperating with member countries of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership to establish new trade rules. Japan, having benefited from free trade, should take an active role.
Strategy to strengthen alliance needed
The goal should be multilateral diplomacy. To restore international order damaged by ongoing wars in Europe and the Middle East and Trump's high-handed tariff policies, it is essential for middle powers like Japan and Europe to band together.
Japan must further strengthen ties with countries sharing values of freedom and democracy, such as Australia and South Korea, as well as with members of emerging and developing countries collectively known as the Global South, including India and those in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
While the words and actions of Trump, who is prioritizing his own country, have shaken the prestige of the United States, China is increasing its presence in Asia. It is leveraging geoeconomic strategies like the Belt and Road Initiative and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank to draw in ASEAN countries targeted by high tariffs.
Japan has built trust with Asian countries since the postwar period through economic assistance and other such measures. It is crucial to leverage this experience to contribute to regional stability.
There is concern that Japan's commitment to the rule of law, which it has valued, and other principles is weakening. If Japan cannot bring itself to criticize the self-righteous actions of Trump, who believes in "peace through strength," out of consideration for him, it will only lose the trust of the Global South.
While maintaining its important relationship with the U.S., which is crucial for Japan's security and economy, efforts to restore a rules-based international order are indispensable. Each party should engage in robust discussions on the role Japan should play in achieving this.