Proposal

　"The Trump Administration and Japan: Challenges and Visions for Japan's Foreign and Security Policy in the New Era"

The establishment of a new administration led by Donald J. Trump, who has made it clear to put the United States' interests ahead of international cooperation, may bring grave changes not only to Japan but also to the world. The United States has upheld the liberal international order for many decades after the conclusion of the Second World War. There is a possibility that this might come to an end. Considering such developments, the Institute for International Policy Studies (IIPS) has established the Study Group on the U.S.-Japan Alliance. The Study Group has examined the effects of the United States' future policies regarding international affairs as well as challenges and issues to be addressed by Japan, and has announced their proposal at a press conference held at the Large Conference Room of IIPS on Thursday 12 January.

Proposal:"The Trump Administration and Japan: Challenges and Visions for Japan's Foreign and Security Policy in the New Era" (English translation pdf)

The members of the Study Group on the U.S.-Japan Alliance are as follows.

Head of Study Group: Shinichi Kitaoka, Emeritus Professor, the University of Tokyo (Executive Director of Research, IIPS)

Deputy Head: Fumiaki Kubo, Professor, the University of Tokyo

Member: Yoji Koda, Vice Admiral (ret.), Advisor, Japan Marine United Corporation

Member: Shin Kawashima, Professor, the University of Tokyo (Senior Fellow, IIPS)

Member: Yuichi Hosoya, Professor, Keio University (Senior Fellow, IIPS)

Member: Satoshi Mori, Professor, Hosei University

Member: Narushige Michishita, Professor, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies

Member: Mie Oba, Professor, Tokyo University of Science

(Participants)

President, IIPS: Ken Sato (former Vice Minister for Defense)

Senior Research Fellow, IIPS: Misako Kaji

Senior Research Fellow, IIPS: Hiroshi Takayama

Research Assistant, IIPS: Akira Okubo

The proposals are arranged in the following three parts. The Study Group has analyzed the direction of US politics and its implications towards major regions around the world and has presented their recommendations regarding foreign and security policies to the Japanese government. These proposals stem from the Study Group's view that the establishment of a new administration under Donald J. Trump, who advocates protectionism and opposes internationalism, would bring changes to the United States which has consistently upheld the liberal international order after the Second World War, and will bring the biggest shift in international politics since the end of that war.

Regarding foreign and security policies, taking into consideration that the change in U.S. policy to put national interests ahead of international cooperation may be a mid-to-long-term development, the Study Group proposes to strengthen Japan's own defense and diplomatic efforts, as well as to further strengthen the U.S.-Japan alliance. As one of the main features of the proposal, in the field of security policy, the Study Group recommends the Japanese government to revise the National Security Strategy and the National Defense Program Guidelines, to incrementally develop "counterstrike capabilities", and to increase its defense expenditures to 1.2% of GDP.

(Structure of the Proposal)

Introduction 　 　　

Trends in US Politics 　　

Regional Implications 　

1. Korean Peninsula

2. China and Taiwan

3. Southeast Asia

4. Europe and Russia

5. The Middle East 　　 　　　　　　

6. Maritime legal order and the rule of law 　

Proposals for the Japanese Government

1. Security policy

S-1: Revise the National Security Strategy and the National Defense Program

Guidelines

S-2: Incrementally develop conventional counterstrike capabilities

S-3: Strengthen Japan's defense capabilities

S-4: Urge the Trump Administration to reaffirm US commitment to the defense

of the Senkaku Islands

2. Foreign policy

F-1: Korean Peninsula

F-2: China and Taiwan

F-3: Southeast Asia

F-4: Europe and Russia

F-5: The Middle East

F-6: Maritime legal order and the rule of law

F-7: Latin America and Africa

F-8: The United Nations, global issues, and multilateral frameworks