Shigeru Ishiba, the newly elected president of the Liberal Democratic Party, is being urged to enhance cooperation with allied and friendly nations, particularly focusing on the Japan-U.S. alliance, in order to bolster Japan’s defense capabilities with China and Russia in mind. As international tensions continue to rise due to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and China’s growing dominance, Ishiba’s diplomatic skills will be put to the test.
During a press conference following his leadership election on Friday, Ishiba emphasized his commitment to establishing a robust system for protecting Japan. He highlighted recent incidents such as Russian military patrol aircraft intruding into Japanese airspace and a Chinese aircraft carrier passing through Japan’s contiguous zone as urgent concerns that require immediate action.
Throughout his campaign for the LDP presidency, Ishiba proposed the creation of an “Asian version of NATO” as part of efforts to enhance Japan’s deterrence and response capabilities. He suggested exploring ways to integrate frameworks from alliances such as Japan-U.S., U.S.-South Korea, and U.S.-Philippines.
However, some experts have raised practical challenges regarding Ishiba’s plan since Japan currently limits its use of collective self-defense rights only when its existence is threatened. Additionally, there are concerns that his stance on reviewing the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement could lead to a fundamental reassessment of the alliance itself.
Ishiba has also put forward the idea of establishing a training base for the Self-Defense Forces in the United States as an effective measure for strengthening bilateral ties. Outgoing Prime Minister Fumio Kishida had successfully built a strong personal relationship with U.S. President Joe Biden during his tenure which significantly bolstered their alliance.
Looking ahead, it will be crucial for Ishiba to establish a solid relationship with whoever becomes President after November’s U.S. election in order to maintain strong ties between both countries.
