With the establishment of the government led by Shigeru Ishiba in Japan, attention has been drawn to his foreign defense policies, including his advocacy for amending the Japan-US “Status of Forces Agreement”, the establishment of an “Asian NATO”, and whether he would lean towards being “pro-China” while neglecting the issue of “Taiwan’s security”. Experts have expressed uncertainties regarding the realization of his proposals, emphasizing that Japan will not pursue a “pro-China” stance.
The Ishiba Cabinet was inaugurated on October 1st. During his first press conference that evening, Shigeru Ishiba discussed Japan’s foreign affairs and security issues, affirming that “Japan will strive to enhance its deterrence capability and significantly boost its defense capabilities”, aiming to expand a circle of friendly and like-minded countries on the basis of the Japan-US alliance to achieve national peace and regional stability.
On the morning following the establishment of the Ishiba government, Ishiba held a phone call with US President Joe Biden on October 2nd. Ishiba emphasized that strengthening the Japan-US alliance is a top priority of his government and expressed hopes for continued close cooperation. Both leaders agreed on the importance of enhancing the deterrence and response capabilities of the US-Japan alliance. Ishiba also mentioned the need to bolster Japan’s defense budget and military equipment to enhance its defense capabilities. During the meeting, he did not touch upon issues such as amending the “Status of Forces Agreement”.
As a former Defense Minister, Shigeru Ishiba, known as an expert in defense policy, has emphasized the importance of personnel assignment in the fields of foreign affairs and security. The choices for key positions in his administration reflect a focus on diplomatic and security matters, with the Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and Defense Minister Gen Nakatani being former Defense Ministers who share a close relationship with him. He has appointed Akihisa Nagashima, former Deputy Defense Minister and US expert, as his assistant and promoted Akihiro Tsuchimichi, who served as his secretary during his defense minister tenure, to a senior secretary position. Additionally, Itsunori Onodera, who previously held the role of Defense Minister and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, has been appointed as one of the four key positions in the Liberal Democratic Party’s policy committee.
Furthermore, Ishiba is aiming to amend the “Status of Forces Agreement” and establish an “Asian NATO”, which has been viewed with skepticism by Japanese public opinion. The feasibility of these proposals remains uncertain, especially given the differing perspectives from the United States, which has expressed reservations about discussions on collective security arrangements at this point.
Ishiba has long advocated for the establishment of an “Asian NATO”, but the US has voiced opposition, deeming it premature to discuss collective security and formal organizations at present. A spokesperson for the US Department of Defense stated during a press conference on September 27th that they look forward to further deepening cooperation with the new Japanese government but refrained from commenting on Ishiba’s plans to amend the “Status of Forces Agreement”.
Song Xuewen, the founding director of the Institute of Strategic and International Affairs at National Chung Cheng University in Taiwan, shared with Dajiyuan that “Ishiba’s proposal for an ‘Asian NATO’ may initially face skepticism or opposition from some countries. However, given the ongoing expansionist threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the region, Washington may eventually accept it, gradually garnering support from more countries”.
Song Xuewen added, “The ‘Asian NATO’ project is massive, and Ishiba needs to start from creating a more equitable US-Japan security alliance, ensuring Japan’s…
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