What kind of Japan? Tokyo's strategic choices for a contested Asia

Japan today is faced with significant strategic uncertainty in Asia. China’s growing assertiveness and a lack of clarity around US objectives toward the region raise the prospect of Japan becoming increasingly isolated. Unsurprisingly, therefore, current debates on Japanese security focus on how Japan is likely to respond to these challenges. As Graeme Dobell asks, will the country push for a “strong Japan” by continuing to build up military strength? Or will it make do with a “comfortable” Japan, accept decline and work within a region dominated by China? Such choices have obvious implications for Australia, which has become an increasingly close security partner to Japan. In fact, Japanese policymakers have long prioritized “autonomy” as a core strategic objective, and this is unlikely to change, especially in such uncertain times.