Japan's Defense Diplomacy in South East Asia

ABSTRACT: Through an empirical case study analysis, this article analyses Japan’s defense diplomacy in the South East Asian nations of Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam during the period from 2006 to 2016. Defense diplomacy is an element of statecraft that uses a nation’s military and security institutions in a non-coercive, peaceful manner to enhance military cooperation and to seek military reform with another nation. This article traces the evolution of Japan’s defense diplomacy in its evolving security environment and identifies its character based on See Seng Tang and Bhubhindar Singh’s typology of “pragmatic” or “transformative” defense diplomacy, contributing important elements in the study of Japan’s defense diplomacy strategy and engagement in South East Asia