Japan’s Altered Defence Roadmap in a New Era

Abstract

Japan is charting a new path to its defence policy through internal and external balancing in a tense strategic environment defined by uncertainties. While external balancing refers to building wider networks of partners beyond its key security ally, the United States, internal balancing includes establishing new laws and policy reforms and building favourable public opinion. This essay argues that Japan is on the cusp of transformative changes in its defence roadmap, which nations around the Indo-Pacific and beyond will be watching carefully.