United States Pressure and Japan’s Contemporary Security Policy: Pushing Against an Open Door?

Throughout the 21st century and especially under prime ministers such as Abe and Kishida, Japan has undergone significant growth in military capabilities despite continued constitutional restraints. Since the rise of the Cold War, the U.S. has continued to push for expansions of Japanese military capabilities through the U.S.-Japan alliance. However, while such developments have been posited as a response to rising international threats and as a result of stronger domestic political ambitions, the effect of U.S. influence on Japan's security policy has become less clear. As the salience of U.S. pressure in international relations has renewed in recent years, this thesis proposes a re-evaluation of U.S. influence on Japan's recent military growth and examines how Japan's contemporary security policy has undergone reform and expansion as a result of pressure from Washington. Through examining U.S. influence on Japan's 2014 constitutional reinterpretation, 2018 National Defense Program...Show moreThroughout the 21st century and especially under prime ministers such as Abe and Kishida, Japan has undergone significant growth in military capabilities despite continued constitutional restraints. Since the rise of the Cold War, the U.S. has continued to push for expansions of Japanese military capabilities through the U.S.-Japan alliance. However, while such developments have been posited as a response to rising international threats and as a result of stronger domestic political ambitions, the effect of U.S. influence on Japan's security policy has become less clear. As the salience of U.S. pressure in international relations has renewed in recent years, this thesis proposes a re-evaluation of U.S. influence on Japan's recent military growth and examines how Japan's contemporary security policy has undergone reform and expansion as a result of pressure from Washington. Through examining U.S. influence on Japan's 2014 constitutional reinterpretation, 2018 National Defense Program Guidelines and 2022 revised security documents, it finds that U.S. pressure continues to significantly impact Japan's security policy alongside rising regional security threats and domestic political ambitions. As such, U.S. pressure maintains prevalence as a key driving force behind Japan's contemporary security policy, which might prove more important to understand than ever in light of Trump's second presidency.Show less

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United States Pressure and Japan’s Contemporary Security Policy: Pushing Against an Open Door?