Japan is investing heavily to become a major producer of high-end electronic components, while the EU is looking to secure resilient supply chains. This might be the perfect opportunity for the EU and Japan to strengthen their ties and form a closer bond, truly realizing their respective and joint potential.
Will Kishida last? New polls show falling approval for the Japanese LDP Prime Minister. This closely mirrors the situation his predecessor Yoshihide Suga was in before him, ultimately leading to his resignation. While Kishida has made it clear that a new election is only due to take place in September 2024, how can potential risks and instabilities as a result of his dwindling support be mitigated by then and what can be envisioned for the future of EU-Japan relations?
December 2022 was a historic month for Japan’s foreign affairs. By targeting an increase of defence spending from 1% of its annual budget to 2% over the next 5 years and publishing new defence and security strategies, Japan is reacting to Asia’s new regional security environment. With new defence capabilities and a growing willingness to cooperate with “like-minded countries”, it is thereby making headway to become a stronger security actor in the region.
On Friday, 12 May 2023, the Brussels Office of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs – Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP) and the European Institute for Asian Studies organised an
expert exchange at the Representation of the State of Hessen to the European Union on Japan’s security policy and its implications for Europe and the United States.
The summit on 16 March 2023 between the Japanese and Republic of Korea (ROK) heads of state was seen as a milestone in relations between the two powers. Such a thawing could present a unique opportunity for Japan and Korea’s strategic partners and see the establishment of a structured trilateral relationship on green cooperation with the EU. This EIAS opinion piece explores how a trilateral promises to strengthen current rapprochement efforts and complements ongoing measures being taken to achieve each actor’s strategic goals in the green transition.
In May 2022, the EU and Japan decided to “join hands” and broaden their partnership on digitalisation. The significance of this digital partnership lies in its broad implementation in key aspects spanning from public institutions and digital infrastructures to digital skills for citizens and businesses. What progress has been made on the implementation of the new EU-Japan Digital Partnership and how can its impact be broadened? How will the initiative advance cooperation, as well as their respective digital environments amidst global tensions?
On 10 July 2022, The LDP’s strong victory in the Senate elections following the attack on former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe provided Kishida with the authority and legitimacy to carry out his New Capitalism policies. “Kishidanomics” will address many issues impacting foreign economic policy, directly affecting Japan’s historical partners such as the European Union.
As the centre of global geopolitical and economic competition shifts towards Asia, the EU’s economic interests in the Indo-Pacific bring maritime security issues in the region ever closer to home. However, if the EU cares to be recognized as a global maritime security actor, and protect its interests abroad, it will need to take concrete steps to strengthen maritime security cooperation with its Asian partners.
Will the combination of the health crisis, conventional warfare and cyber aggression confirm a renewed focus upon state-centric realpolitik approaches to security in the East China Sea, or will it spur new conceptions and definitions of security that can be shared by like-minded states and other actors?