Abstract
This article examines issues concerning the South China Sea from a Japanese perspective. In contrast to its reticence and hesitant attitude in the 1990s, Japan’s current approach to the South China Sea has been much more active and multi-dimensional. The Japanese government has been eager to actively participate in ASEAN-centered security dialogues. The basic strategy Tokyo has employed in multilateral arenas is to include the concept of maritime security on the agenda, emphasizing the importance of resolving territorial disputes in a peaceful manner and securing freedom of navigation based on the rule of law. The incumbent Abe administration has also been active in reinforcing bilateral cooperation with ASEAN claimants, Vietnam and Philippines in particular. How Japan can effectively pursue security cooperation with ASEAN to check China’s actions depends largely upon the overall US strategy toward the region.
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