The simmering South China Sea (SCS) dispute casts a long shadow over the Indo-Pacific region, posing a continual threat to regional stability and security. This complex issue involves major players such as China and various Southeast Asian nations (Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam) and global players like the USA, Japan, France, Australia and India with disputed territorial claims at its core, the conflict revolves around territorial claims and maritime boundaries in this vital waterway, which is crucial for global trade and energy transit. The South China Sea is not only a strategically significant waterway but also a region rich in natural resources. Among its most valuable assets are precious metals, natural gas, and crude oil, which have long attracted international interest and investment. The role of Japan in SCS is very critical.
While exploring Japan’s strategic role in the South China Sea dispute, one must understand the historical context and the complex interplay of interests at stake. Japan does not have any claim over the territorial disputes. Yet, it takes a rather keen interest in the stability and security of the region due to geographical proximity and economic ties. Japan, being one of the prime actors in the play of the Indo-Pacific, cannot relegate its contribution or position about the South China Sea issue to just being an interested observer, as its moves and policies affect sensitive regional power balance.
The majority of the South China Sea is claimed by China under the Nine-Dash Line, have heightened tensions and triggered concerns about maritime security and freedom of navigation. The involvement of Southeast Asian nations, such as Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia, complicates the situation, leading to a multifaceted power struggle with far-reaching implications.
Japan is one of the oldest players in the South China Sea dispute claiming it occupied several islands in the first half of the 20th century. Today, Japan’s strategic role in the dispute is twofold: on the one hand, it wants to defend its territory and ensure stability in the region; on the other hand, it remains a strategic partner of the United States, which has its agenda to challenge china’s dominance in the area. As the dynamics of power and influence are a rather multi-faceted phenomenon in contemporary international relations, one of the key strategies for managing it is the foreign policy cooperation with other countries in the region. For instance, Japan has deepened its cooperation with Vietnam and the Philippines to secure the sea routes in the South China Sea where both Vietnam and the Philippines have issues over territorial disagreement with China in the South China Sea. In this way, Japan wins partnerships for itself while at the same time trying to contain China’s rise in the region. Therefore, Japan has actively strengthened its security support with regional partners and engaged in diplomatic efforts to uphold the rule of law and seek peaceful resolution of disputes in the South China Sea.
The existence of the Japan-Philippines joint statement in February 2023 reiterated that there was a bond between the two countries and their stand against China’s claimed territories. Japan’s foreign policy especially in the contemporary world has focused on the aspect of upholding the ‘law of the sea,’ which is something it has advocated tirelessly for. This dedication does not only focus on a bilateral framework, but it encompasses multilateral cooperation together with the ASEAN Member States and the United States. For Japan and its partners to support an unimpeded and stable world, the “rule of law” has to be upheld and defended from the sway of disruptive forces in the maritime environment.
Although Japan is not directly involved in territorial disputes, it has demonstrated its strategic initiative in the South China Sea based on its broader strategic vision for the Indo-Pacific region. For this reason, it supports a rules-based international order, freedom of navigation and stability of the region, inspired by ULCLOS, for which it has the support of countries that are its allies such as America and other democracies in the region. This paper has found that Japan has moderate influence on the South China Sea dispute due to its treaties with the US, economic considerations, and security laws.
Historical Involvement in the South China Sea
To analyze Japan’s strategy in the South China Sea issue, it is vital to identify the historical background that defined Japan’s interests in the region and its relations with Southeast Asian nations. Understanding the relations between Japan and the region will be crucial to analysing Japan’s vision of the South China Sea issue because the interactions between these two parties can be discussed in terms of trade ties and territorial disputes.
Japan’s Role in SCS
Earlier World War II, Japan seem to expose itself to the South China Sea (SCS) only in commercial pursuits. Historical evidence indicates that it has had extensive buying and selling interactions with countries in Southeast Asia with a focus on Vietnam (Le , 2017). However, Japan did not have territorial claims within the South China Sea during this period.
However, the outbreak of World War II marked a dramatic change in the relationship between Japan and the South China Sea. By 1939, Japan occupied parts of the South China Sea, including the Paracel and Spratly Islands (Raymond & Welch, 2022). In the Treaty of San Francisco 1951, Japan handed over the territories to the Allies leaving the Spratlys island legally unoccupied, which was later reoccupied by France in 1946 (Hayton, 2014). By the time of this wartime occupation, several Southeast Asian nations including Vietnam and the Philippines had not been able to come to terms as they feel the persistent effects of the historical Japanese violence (Raymond & Welch, 2022)
After World War II, a major impact on Japan’s strategic patterns as the country’s strategic objectives changed. Japan lost control of Taiwan and other islands and territories to China, these included the Paracel Island and Spratly Island in the South China Sea dispute. The relations between Japan and SCS broke ties by signing the 1951 San Francisco Treaty, Japan left its claims over the archipelagos in the South China Sea. Earlier, Japan showed a minimal interest in the region and priority had been given to economic recovery and diplomatic relations. In the 1990s Japan was cautious and supported peace efforts through ASEAN and bilateral talks with China. However, since the late 2000s, Japan has taken more proactive actions because of China’s assertive behaviour and the strategic position of shipping for trade and energy. Since then, Japan engaged in multilateral negotiations and strengthened its bilateral relations with ASEAN members that are in conflict with China like Vietnam and the Philippines (Shoji, 2014).
Although the growing assertiveness of China, the newly emerged regional power, has significantly changed the dynamics in the South China Sea. China’s assertiveness is seen through its extensive territorial claims, large-scale land reclamation actions, and the militarization of outposts in the disputed islands (Zhou, 2015). These actions projected concern for Japan; first, free navigation and second China’s capability to take control over the disputed islands.
However, China’s growing assertive in their claims over the South China Sea which puts Japan in a complex challenge. Despite having no territorial claims, however, Japan’s economy significantly depends on the current and future freedom of navigation of the South China Seas. About one-third of its marine-borne trade, including vital energy resources, transits through these disputed waters (Yoshimatsu, 2017). The freedom of navigation is crucial to Japan’s economy and any interruption to this in the future could be devastating.
China’s Role in SCS
As for China, the South China Sea remained a crucial strategic choke point even before the entry of Europeans into the country. It was profoundly as, the” Maritime Silk Route”. Historically, it was strategically used as a trade route, promoting trade, cultural exchanges, and economic development among countries in the Asia-Pacific area. This vital maritime corridor goes back to antiquity with trading routes in Southeast Asian, Chinese as well as Indian cultures. The South China Sea had several territorial conflicts and claims by different countries over its islands and waterways (Mamchii, 2023). Through the period of colonialism, it remained an important port for trading such as Tea, Silk, Opium etc. between China and Europe while also helping European Maritime Forces specifically of Britain to extend their influence in Southeast Asian nations.
However, with the independence of China and the annexation of Tibet in 1950-51 significance of the South China Sea further increased for China. With the annexation of Tibet, China started to claim the whole South China Sea along with Taiwan. China claimed the South China Sea as a natural territory belonging to them for thousands of years and part of their exclusive economic zone. China’s assertiveness in the region started to increase many fold after the 1980s when it started to emerge as an economic powerhouse. This condition was further compounded by globalization and the extension of China’s economic growth.
The South China Sea was the focal point of the World’s map and became an area of discussion when China started to militarise the region by developing artificial islands for military purposes. This situation was further compounded by the rise of China’s military as well as the emergence of the Indo-Pacific and the formation of groups such as QUAD. After the launch of BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) importance of the South China Sea rose to a new high for China and it became very crucial for Beijing to assert control in areas under the Nine-Dash line specifically.
Japan and China’s Interest and Concerns in SCS
Economically: Japan’s economy heavily relies on unrestricted maritime communication in the South China Sea (SCS). This maritime is said to be vital for Japan as about 80% of its energy imports and a large amount of trade with other countries pass through these waterways (Envall, 2022) (Darmawan, 2020). Both food and energy resources are being shipped through the South China Sea without any hindrance, which is important for Japan’s economy in terms of security in maritime. In 2019, Japan’s trade with EU and ASEAN countries reached $363,201 million, which was around 25.2% of the total trade of Japan (Darmawan, 2020). Japan has strategic consideration on China’s growing assertiveness in the region with sovereignty over the island dispute in the Senkaku Islands as well as the militarization by China in the South China Sea. On the other hand, China’s interest in the South China Sea was claiming historical resources, territorial claims, and control over the region. Japan is also concerned as China has been involved in the militarization of activities, rejecting the UNCLOS and participating in grey zone operations (Envall, 2022). After growth and development of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) project (Darmawan, 2020)have strengthened China’s economic influence in the region.
Security-wise: Japan has significant security interests in the South China Sea because of operational strategic objectives and regional stability. Japan’s concern in the South China Sea is China’s growing assertiveness (Darmawan, 2020) in the region, balance of power in East Asia, and unhindered use of maritime space (Envall, 2022). Japan’s strategic objectives rely on the US as a security provider in the region, keeping the US invested in the region, and capacity development by investing in infrastructure and other forms of developing programs (Darmawan, 2020). While, China’s concerns of security in the South China Sea secured territorial claims, resources, and position in the region. Japan is also concerned about China’s military modernization and rising defence expenditures, which have risen by 83% since 2009. In 2018, China was expected to have spent around $250 trillion as far as military spending, 5% higher than they spent in 2017 (Darmawan, 2020). As for Japan, China’s militarization, grey-zone tactics, and rejection of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as an international form are viewed as their focus (Envall, 2022). Despite positive relations between the two countries, some issues raise Japan’s concern, especially regarding China’s military modernization, economic power and effort to gain control in the region.
Balancing Act in SCS: Japan and China
Japan’s Perspective: Although Japan is not a direct participant in the disputes in the region, it has a crucial interest in the South China Sea (Envall, 2022). Japan’s main concern is the US becomes obstructed from freely navigating the South China Sea for trade since a large deal of Japan’s imported energy and its total trade comes through this area. Japan also has security concerns regarding China’s growing aggressiveness in utilizing control in the region through its refusal to accept the UNCLOS and efforts to put individual claimant states into a corner (Envall, 2022).
In response to these issues, Japan has developed a rather comprehensive strategy. Thus, it aims to reconcile the country’s effective foreign policy concerning China with the objective of the rules and institutional infrastructure of ASEAN (Envall, 2022). Japan also focuses on counterbalancing China’s control through indirect balancing in the strategic ties with Southeast Asian countries and The US (Envall, 2022). However, there is a weakness in Japan’s position it more or less, relies on the continued presence of the United States in the region. Since the current strategy of Japan has been based on asserting China’s aggression and expanding its ability to take over the South China Sea, any defeat or withdrawal from the part of the US would weaken Japan’s capacity to continue this strategy (Envall, 2022).
China’s Perspective: China’s position in the South China Sea is based on the historical rights that it has applied to encompass its territorial and artificial islands (Chang, 2020) (Miller, 2017). This has engaged China with other countries’ interests, particularly claimant countries like the Philippines and Taiwan, the United States and its allies within the region such as Japan (Chang, 2020) (Miller, 2017).
The Chinese response has been a balancing act as well. On one side it wishes to state its sovereignty over the regions, and on the other hand, it is eager to solve its disputes in a non-confrontational manner with other claimants (VENZON & CALONZO, 2024). China has been involved in diplomatic actions to resolve conflicts like the recent one with the Philippines agreeing to decrease maritime sector incidents. However, it has also sustained its rigid position concerning its territorial sovereignty which has made it hard to obtain a lasting resolution (VENZON & CALONZO, 2024).
Regional Approach and the Role of International Organizations
The South China Sea dispute requires that the region has to work more on cooperation as well as involvement of international organizations. In ASEAN’s and the United Nations’ abilities, they should be involved in negotiations to encourage peaceful settlement and guarantee international law (Chang, 2020) (VENZON & CALONZO, 2024). Both Japan and China also can engage in other non-security cooperation in areas of conservation of the environment and provision of humanitarian assistance in cases of disaster (VENZON & CALONZO, 2024). This way, some parties will be able to avoid reaching extreme tensions and therefore reduce conflicts in the area of the South China Sea.
Conclusion
Thus, the South China Sea is a rather flexible and ambiguous issue that concerns regional security and stability. Thus, Japan participates in the conflict not through territorial claims, but as an economically significant factor, relying on the free navigation in the region and the US alliance. Japan’s approach to security is centred on the deepening of security relationships with allies in the Asia-Pacific region, support for the principles of liberalism in world politics, and adherence to the principles of non-violent conflict resolution. On the other hand, China is pursuing its historical rights and sovereignty over this area and thus conflicts with other claimant countries and the United States. To solve this conflict, cooperation should be made at the regional level, with collaboration from bearers of International Organizations. All parties involved should follow the International Laws of peaceful settlement of disputes. There is a foothold for cooperation in issues like environmental protection and humanitarian aid to avoid conflicts and nurture a better and more secure environment in the South China Sea region.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the views of the Government of India and Defence Research and Studies
Title image courtesy: https://www.philippine-resources.com/
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