Facing China: Japan's Growing Strategic Role in the Indo-Pacific | DW News

Why It Matters

Japan’s strategic pivot strengthens the rules‑based order, offering allies and multinational firms a reliable counterweight to China’s aggression and a more predictable security environment.

Key Takeaways

• Japan positions itself as a trusted middle power in Indo‑Pacific.
• Tokyo deepens security ties with Philippines, Vietnam, India, and Australia.
• Japan’s defense spending and strategic documents accelerate amid China threat.
• Beijing’s historical narrative fails; regional trust in Japan remains high.
• Japan seeks broader NATO/EU partnerships to counterbalance China and Russia.

Summary

DW News examines Japan’s evolving role as a pivotal, trusted middle power in the Indo‑Pacific. While the United States remains Japan’s primary security ally, Tokyo is systematically expanding networks with the Philippines, Australia, India, Vietnam and other regional partners, positioning itself as a champion of a rules‑based order. The video highlights Japan’s rapid defense buildup, new national security and defense strategies, and its pursuit of deeper ties with NATO and the EU to offset China’s growing assertiveness. Robert Ward of the IISS stresses that without Japan, the United States cannot credibly claim a residential presence in Asia, and that Japan’s strategic importance has surged since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Concrete examples include Prime Minister Kishida’s recent meetings with Philippine President Marcos and Vietnamese leaders, the contentious Shangri‑La Dialogue where a PLA delegate demanded a wartime apology, and Japan’s concern over Taiwan’s proximity and China’s militarization of the Senkaku Islands. Despite Beijing’s attempts to revive historical grievances, surveys show Japan remains the most trusted nation in the region. The implications are clear: Japan’s heightened security posture and diplomatic outreach reshape regional power dynamics, create new defense‑industry opportunities, and offer a stabilizing hedge for businesses navigating an increasingly volatile Indo‑Pacific landscape.

Original Description

While the world focuses on China's rise, Japan has been quietly boosting its own strategic importance in Asia. Japan is now updating its defense policy to counter China, and increasing its military spending. But thanks to careful diplomacy, it has managed to gain trust with other small and middle powers. We speak to Robert Ward, Senior Fellow and Japan Chair at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, and author of the book Evaluating Japan's New Strategy. He explains how Japan is building its defense muscles without needing to flex them. Taiwan plays a big part, with Japan increasingly concerned about China's ambitions over the island, which lies just kilometers away from its own claimed territory. He says the recent unreliability of the US is pushing Japan to step up, and drawing other nations to its side.

Content cited:

Robert Ward - Evaluating Japan’s New Grand Strategy: https://www.iiss.org/publications/adelphi/2025/evaluating-japans-new-grand-strategy

China created the rival it rails against - Andy Browne for SEMAFOR: https://www.semafor.com/article/06/02/2026/china-created-the-rival-it-rails-against

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan - The Updated “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP): https://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/page25e_000278.html

Chapters:

00:00: Japan's success in networking regional allies

01:32: Japan's rising strategic importance

03:33: How Japan is responding to China's territorial claims over Taiwan and the Senkaku Islands

05:16: China's efforts to invoke memories of Japanese imperialism

06:25: Why the Philippines and Japan are moving closer together

08:30: Japan's relations with South Korea

09:16: Vietnam's importance for Japan's 'free and open Indo-Pacific'

10:40: Japan reacting to regional stability threats

11:45: How important is Japan for your country?

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