Japan’s Foreign Policy

Introduction
Foreign policy is the broad goals that guide a country's actions and relationships with other
countries. Foreign policy is affected by things happening at home, the policies or actions of
other countries, and plans to move certain geopolitical goals forward. Leopold von Ranke said
that geography and external threats were the most important things that affected foreign policy,
but later writers said that domestic factors were more important. Diplomacy is the tool of
foreign policy, and it can show up in war, alliances, and international trade.
Basic Objectives of Japan’s Foreign Policy
The basic Japanese foreign policy objectives to be pursued can be summarized as follows:
(1) First, for the peace and stability of Asia and the world as a whole, Japan needs to play an
active diplomatic role and live up to the political responsibilities that come with its position
in the world. It needs to stop things that make things worse and help things that make things
better.
(2) Second, Japan needs to help lead the world economy toward stable growth by making a
positive contribution to international efforts. Japan can do the most good for the rest of the
world through its work in the economic field, which is inextricably linked to its work in the
political field.
(3) Third, since the energy situation has recently gotten worse, Japan needs to do even more to
help solve international energy problems by working with other countries through the
International Energy Agency (IEA) and other ways.
(4) Fourth, Japan needs to get involved in international efforts to solve the North-South
problem. Japan, which has close ties to developing countries, would have to take the lead in
trying to make the relationship between the North and the South more peaceful and
cooperative.
Major Issues of Foreign Policy (instruments)
1. Economic Aid (ODA)
2. Peace Keeping Organization (PKO) Activities
3. Humanitarian Aid (SDF Dispatch to Iraq)
4. Japan’s Quest for UNSC Permanent Membership
 5. Free Trade Organization

Japan’s International contribution (economic Aid)

1. ODA
In the last 50 years, Japan's ODA was the most important in the world from 1991 to 2000. Japan
has helped 185 countries and regions in total. This is one-fifth of the world's total ODA.
Over the years, Japan's aid has grown along with the recovery and growth of its economy. In the
1990s, Japan was the largest donor in the world.
According to the most recent numbers, it gave out $6.55 billion in bilateral aid in 1997, which
was 11.2% less than the year before. On the other hand, $2.81 billion worth of Japanese aid was
given out through multilateral institutions. The Japanese government hasn't given aid out of
kindness, but for a reason, mostly as a tool for foreign policy. Japanese and non-Japanese
scholars have given different reasons for this practice, and the reasons have also changed over
time.
1.1 ODA Grant Aid
ODA grants are a type of financial aid in which money is given to a developing country to help
with building projects or services, like getting the tools and materials that are needed for
economic and social growth. Since ODA Grants are free money that doesn't have to be paid
back, they are mostly given to low-income developing countries.
Help is given to development projects that are important for building nations in developing
countries. These projects include building hospitals, schools, and safe water supplies to meet
basic human needs; improving irrigation systems to help communities grow and increase
agricultural output; building roads and bridges to build social and economic foundations;
building facilities to protect the environment; and developing human resources.
1.2 ODA Loan Aid
Japan is the largest contributor to international organizations including the Asian Development
Bank (ADB), the Asian Productivity Organization (APO), the United Nations Industrial
Development Organization (UNIDO), and the African Development Fund (ADF).
1.3 Criticism of ODA
Japan still gives the most aid money of any country in the world. But the public is putting more
and more pressure on the Japanese government to cut aid budgets and use official development
assistance to further Japan's own economic and political goals. This is because the Japanese
economy has been stuck in a rut for a long time and the government's debt is growing. Japan is
still criticized internationally for how much it focuses on infrastructure projects and how little it
wants to join multilateral partnerships. The authors say that Japan can deal with these problems
at home and abroad by making a national strategy for official development assistance that is
designed to make it more effective, accountable, and open.
2. Peacekeeping Activities
Peace Keeping Operations are one way that the United Nations tries to keep peace and security
around the world. The Security Council is in charge of most of it. If the parties don't follow the
Security Council's advice, it can ask the international community to step in and ask the Member
States to use their armed forces to settle international disputes.
2.1 Japan’s Peacekeeping Operations & Participation
Japan is helping the international community, which is led by the UN, work for peace and
stability by giving support that fits Japan's international status and responsibilities.
The UN Charter does not require Japan to send troops to help keep the peace. Japan's Peace
Keeping Operations have always involved people who are not in the military, the protection of
human life, the choice of monitoring, humanitarian aid, and economic recovery after a conflict.
2.2 Criticism of Japan’s Peacekeeping Operations
Japan’s involvement in Peacekeeping Operations is linked to Japan’s bid for permanent
Security Council Membership.
3. Japan’s International Contribution (Humanitarian Aid)
Humanitarian crises around the world have gotten worse and lasted longer over the past few
years, and both the number and size of natural disasters have been going up. So, it is important
for the international community to know how to handle this kind of situation.
In order to help rebuild after the Great East Japan Earthquake, the Japanese government has
made it part of our foreign policy to always help out with humanitarian aid. It's one way to
thank people from all over the world for their help after the Great East Japan Earthquake. From
these points of view, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs made the "Humanitarian Aid Policy of
Japan," which is a set of basic ideas about how our country should help people who are in need.
4. Japan’s Quest for United Nations Permanent Membership
Drift told a group of diplomats and people who know a lot about Japan that Japan's Foreign
Ministry is in charge of trying to get a permanent seat on the Security Council. Japanese
diplomats saw the UN as a way for Japan to rejoin the rest of the world after World War II.
Today, Japanese diplomats see a permanent seat as a way for Japan to regain its position as a
world leader. Early in the 1990s, officials in the Foreign Ministry were traumatized by the Gulf
War. This was because Japan was criticized for using checkbook diplomacy and not sending
any troops to join the international coalition against Iraq. Drift said that officials from Japan's
Foreign Ministry think a permanent seat would fit Japan's status as an economic superpower,
give Japan credit for its contributions to the world, and help Japan move on from World War II.

5. Free Trade Agreements (FTA) & Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA)

Free trade and economic partnership agreements make Japan's economy stronger. A key part of
this strategy is getting rid of tariffs on food and other resources that are brought in from other
countries. Another key part is getting better access to economic blocs in Europe, North
America, Southeast Asia, and South America. It also talks about problems on the political and
diplomatic levels. Japan has made agreements with Singapore, Mexico, the Philippines, and
Malaysia.
Late in 2004, Japan's government approved a basic plan to promote free trade agreements,
giving priority to agreements with ASEAN trading partners to help build a community in East
Asia. The ASEAN plus-three process, which includes ASEAN states, Japan, China, and South
Korea, is one way the East Asian community wants to improve cooperation in the region.