The human security agenda : Australia and Japan

This chapter examines human security factors in the Australia– Japan relationship. To date, there has been considerable Australian– Japanese collaboration in this area, including in various peacekeeping operations (Cambodia, Iraq and TimorLeste), ‘soft security’ components within the Australia– Japan Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation (JDSC), and the co-chairing of an international commission on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament in the United Nations. It is argued that although Australia and Japan have enough common interest in human security to collaborate in reducing conflict and civil strife in the Asian region, there are limitations to that collaboration. The integration of human security in the foreign and defence policy mix in Japan with a more incremental approach adopted in Australia is contrasted here. Finally, the chapter critically assesses prospects for future Australia– Japan collaboration on human security-related issues, taking into consideration both opportunities and constraints