Nexus of the East and South China Seas: A Japanese Perspective

Abstract

This chapter discusses the security situation in the East and South China Seas from a Japanese perspective. In contrast to the comprehensive developments in Japan–China diplomatic relations, the situation in the East China Sea is far from stable and has been deteriorated. China’s assertiveness in the East China Sea in 2019 was much more apparent than in previous years. Therefore, the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) incessantly reinforces its operations in the East China Sea. The Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) is also continuously making efforts to enhance its defense capabilities in the southwestern region. Within the context of increasing tensions in the East China Sea, the Japanese government is addressing the South China Sea in tandem with the East China Sea. Japan’s perception of the South China Sea is that the dispute over the sea is of great concern to the entire international community due to its direct implications for peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region. In this regard, Japan is pursuing cooperation with ASEAN in multilateral dialogues as well as fostering bilateral cooperation with ASEAN claimants, like Vietnam and the Philippines, aiming to jointly address China’s assertiveness. Based on the Vientiane Vision, capacity-building assistance is one of the main items for bilateral and multilateral cooperation between Japan and ASEAN.