Author: Kevin Placek, Melbourne

Having ruled Japan for the better half of a century, it is no surprise that the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has found it difficult to adapt to its role as Japan’s major opposition party.

But with the prospect of further political gridlock, it may be time for the LDP to reconsider its strategy. Read more…

Author: Norifumi Namatame, ANU

After North Korea tested its Taepodong I missile in 1998 over Japanese airspace, Japan made the decision to develop its ballistic missile defence (BMD) system in cooperation with the US.

The system comprises a mid-course phase (upper-tier) Standard Missile 3 Bloc IA system loaded onto four Aegis ships, and a 16-unit terminal phase (lower-tier) Patriot PAC-3 defence system, which has been deployed to four sites on Japanese soil. Read more…

Author: Sanjana Joshi, ICRIER

High-level political contacts between India and Japan since the year 2000 have produced a multitude of political documents.

And as Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda wrapped up his official visit to India on 27–29 December, following the annual meeting between the Indian and Japanese prime ministers, the countries’ respective policy establishments unveiled the Vision for the Enhancement of India-Japan Strategic and Global Partnership. Read more…

Author: Aurelia George Mulgan, UNSW Canberra

In selecting his first cabinet and party executive line-up in September 2011, the most important motivation for Japan’s Prime Minister Noda was intra-party harmony.

His ministers were largely selected to appease political strongman Ichiro Ozawa, who maintains a well-deserved reputation for either running parties or destroying them. Read more…

Author: Michael Cucek, MIT Centre for International Studies

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda reshuffled his cabinet on 13 January, prior to the 24 January opening of the Diet’s regular session.

The reshuffle was preordained; the opposition-dominated House of Councillors censured two of Noda’s cabinet ministers on the last day of the extraordinary session last year. Read more…

Author: Thomas S. Wilkins, University of Sydney

The Taiwanese presidential election is due to be held on 14 January. As the election draws near, analysts in Taiwan are avidly sifting the tea leaves to predict what the future holds — will the incumbent leader, Ma Ying-jeou, of the Kuomintang (KMT) gain a second term and continue his rapprochement with the PRC mainland?

Or will Tsai Ing-wen, his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) opponent, unseat Ma and seek to reinforce Taiwan’s distinct identity? At present, polls show almost an even split in support for the two candidates. Read more…

Author: Purnendra Jain, Adelaide University and Tokyo University

A Japanese prefectural governor does not usually resign to run for office as city mayor — with significantly less authority, power and prestige.

But these are not usual times in Osaka and flamboyant, media-savvy, highly popular Osaka Governor, Toru Hashimoto, has taken this unusual move. Read more…

Author: Deborah Elms, RSIS

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiro Noda has finally announced that his country will seek to participate in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations.

His government was poised to enter the talks earlier in the year, but the decision was postponed in the wake of Japan’s earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster — and even Noda’s announcement this week was delayed multiple times as he tried to shore up support within his own party. Read more…

Author: Andy Yee, Hong Kong

Geopolitical tensions continue to simmer in the South China Sea after the Obama administration’s declaration last year of a US ‘return to Asia’ stirred up regional dynamics.

Now, non-claimant states India and Japan are entering into the fray. Read more…

Author: Corey Wallace, University of Auckland

Public debate surrounding Japan’s proposed entry into the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) remains as heated and confused as ever.

The rhetoric is far-ranging: while some maintain that Japan risks being permanently left behind economically should it fail to negotiate entry into the TPP, others suggest that Japan’s government is agreeing to effectively cede sovereignty and sacrifice its agricultural sector for the sake of diplomatic cordiality. No one really knows what the TPP will mean for Japan, but little recognition is given to this fact. Read more…

Author: Jithin S. George, National Maritime Foundation

Japan received bids from Boeing, Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems to replace its outdated F-4 fighter jets on 27 September 2011, as part of a plan to buy 40–50 fighter jets in a deal worth more than US$6 billion.

Japan intends to add the new aircraft to its fleet by 2016. Read more…

Author: Hitoshi Tanaka, Japan Center for International Exchange

Just a few weeks after taking office in early September, Japan’s new prime minister, Yoshihiko Noda, had his first meeting with US President Barack Obama in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

It was widely reported that first and foremost on the agenda for this meeting was the relocation of the Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, with President Obama delivering a stern message that the time has come for results. Read more…

Author: Aurelia George Mulgan, UNSW Canberra

The Japanese government’s new policy reform plan, Basic Policy and Action Plan for the Revitalisation of Our Country’s Food and Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, (published 25 October) does little to promote agricultural trade liberalisation.

While containing a number of reform proposals designed to expand the scale of farming and facilitate agricultural land transfers, the plan fails to address the most important issue of all: reducing direct income subsidies to small-scale farms. Read more…

Author: Christopher Findlay, University of Adelaide

Commentators on these pages have been pondering the implications of the Fukushima explosion on Japan’s energy policy and its strategy for international purchases.

Samuels suggests an extensive re-examination of energy policy in Japan and a possible shift toward renewable energy. Read more…

Author: Jane Golley, ANU

Australia’s opposition leader, Tony Abbott, who, if the polls are to be believed would win a handsome victory and become Australia’s next prime minister if an election were held today, has advanced some views that have baffled and disturbed the Australian policy and business community (including senior members of his own front bench) over the past week or two.

Among them, on foreign economic policy, he appears to be backing away from Australia’s key economic relationship with China in favour of ramping up the relationship with Japan. Read more…