Reflections and Prospects

This research sought to elucidate evolving features in Japan’s diplomacy towards Asia under the Abe Shinzō administration. For this objective, the study examined the development of policies and measures as well as their implications in regional, domestic, and ideational politics. Such examinations were undertaken in five empirical cases, which are related to a conventional and a newly emerging policy field in both international political economy and national security as well as the development cooperation field. The findings in the empirical cases reveal complicated evolutions of Japan’s foreign and security policy towards Asia, which were influenced by its position in regional and international politics, domestic policy formation processes, and the strategic use of rules, standards and principles.