Japan's "proactive contribution to peace" and involvement in the south china sea conflict

Since 2010 and the dispute between Japan and China over the Senkaku islands, there has been noticed a change in Japan‘s identity. In Japan‘s discourse, China has emerged as the main „Other“ which is also perceived as threatening. During the same period, another conflict where China has been involved, emerged. The South China Sea conflict between some of ASEAN‘s countries and China has become a part of Japan’s discourse and Japan has been involved in this conflict due the changed nature of its identity. Since Shinzo Abe became the Prime Minister of Japan, there has been a rapid rearticulation process of Japan’s identity which is based on Abe’s “Proactive Contribution to Peace” concept. It can be said that South China Sea conflict becomes an important context where this changed identity can be articulated, produced and where the meaning to this identity and, consequently, to the world can be established. The thesis is focused on Japan’s discourse, norms and practices which are articulated and employed in the context of South China Sea conflict. The main question of the thesis is how Japan articulates this new identity and how this helps to explain Japan’s involvement in the South China Sea conflict. Thesis is based on constructivist approach which understands the concept of identity as inherently established in the discourse and where an actor, in a sense, establishes its own selfhood and defines how “Self”, “others” and the world can and should be understood. Through norms that are exercised by an actor, its identity can be legitimised and given meaning to. Both identity and norms are ideational in nature and both of these concepts are materialised through practices and how an actor actually behaves in the world. Thus, thesis employs discourse-norm-practice analysis in order to analyse Japan’s identity and the articulation of the South China Sea conflict. The empirical part focuses on “Proactive Contribution to Peace” and shows how Japan’s identity has been rearticulated and what kind of changes can be seen in its foreign and security policies. It is also explained how due to this change Japan essentially establishes itself as a legitimate actor to talk about the South China Sea conflict. The analysis also explains how this conflict becomes connected to the Senkaku conflict – Japan’s own territorial dispute with China over the islands in East China Sea – and how this helps to establish and maintain the narrative of China’s threat. As a way to solve the conflict, Japan seeks to re-establish rules based on the international law which should maintain the order and peace in the region. Because of this, Japan emerges as both the norm entrepreneur and one that diffuses the norms to other actors as well as to ASEAN. Thesis also shows how bilateral and multilateral practices such as multilateral forums, knowledge transfer in maritime security and practical technological support to ASEAN countries in a way of ship and equipment transfer, constitute the articulated identity and it becomes embodied in and on the material world. To conclude, Japan’s changed identity based on “Proactive Contribution to Peace” is articulated in discourse and via norms and practices. Japan becomes involved in the South China Sea conflict not just because of national pragmatic interests, but as a way to (re)articulate and (re)produce its new identity and as a way to be accepted and approved by significant “Others” which are understood as partners. In the discourse, Japan establishes itself as a peace protector due to its commitment and support to ASEAN and its countries vis-à-vis China and norm entrepreneur due to its support to the rule of law and norms. The South China Sea conflict itself is articulated mainly through maritime security concerns. Japan connects the conflict with freedom, peace and stability as a way to show that China and its actions are threatening precisely these values