JAPAN 'S SIGNIFICANT ROLE AS MAJOR PLAYER IN INDO PACIFIC SECURITY

Japan with its geostrategic location in the Western Pacific virtually on the doorsteps of China and Russia,, (both conjoined presently in a 'Strategic Nexus')coupled with its technology advancements, self-reliant defence production and economic strengths stands uniquely placed as the linchpin of any security architecture in the Indo Pacific geopolitical expanse.

Japan's earlier significance as security pivot of the United States security architecture in Asia Pacific against the 'Soviet Union Threat' during the First Cold War now stands radically transformed to that of a crucial security pivot of the much wider Indo Pacific Security Template against the burgeoning 'China Threat' which in 2020 has all the dimensions of a Second Cold War 

Japan played a significant role in US security architecture for then Asia Pacific during the First Cold War hosting US Forward Military Presence against the then Soviet Union threat.

Japan continues to host a sizeable US Forward Military Presence during the Second Cold War whose advent I had pointed out in my writings in 2001 of China having generated the opening moves of the Second Cold War against the United States.

The 'China Threat' in 2020 is now palpably felt not only by United States and Japan but ASEAN nations like Philippines and Vietnam. Significantly, India as the other Major Asian Power has pronounced threat perceptions focus on China and the China-Pakistan Axis.

Notably therefore in 2020, strategic convergences on the 'Chia Threat' have crystallised between the United Sates, Japan and India and extending to Australia.

Thus we are witnessing presently a strategic coalescing of the Major Democracies of the Indo Pacific against the jointly perceived 'China Threat'.

Japan since the switchover by China of military strategies from 'Soft Power' to 'Hard Power' since 2008 and more muscularly with ascension of power in Beijing of President Xi Jinping has been giving a sustained attention to build up its defence capabilities including force projection.

China in recent years has consistently attempted political an military coercion against Japan by its aggressive brinkmanship around the Japanese Senkaku Islands and its submarines prowling in Inland Sea of Japan

Contextually, Japan today is thus uniquely placed to play a stellar role in Indo Pacific Security with its geopolitical and military experience of facing the 'Soviet Threat' during the First Cold War and in coping with the enlarging 'China Threat' for the last decade and a half.

China may have vast numbers on its side militarily but Japan off-sets this numerical advantage of China by hi-tech Japanese Armed Forces. In fact, I have always rated the Japanese Navy as one of the best Navies in the Indo Pacific after the US Navy.

While China may have established 'Full Spectrum Dominance' over the South China Sea and perceive that China is in a commanding position to throttle Japan's energy and economic lifelines traversing the South China Sea, it is my assessment that China would be in a rude shock  if it attempts to do so.

Expectedly, Japan and the United States would not be alone in checkmating China's military adventurism in the Indo Pacific. There is intense regional polarisation against China which stands intensified after the China Virus19 Pandemic emerging from Wuhan.

In terms of Indo Pacific Security, China fears Japan more as a potent threat to China than India as the other important Major Power in the US-led Indo Pacific Security Template.

The above by itself is a ringing testimony to Japan's unique positioning as a significant Major Power and major player in Indo Pacific security in the unfolding decades ahead. Notably, this unique significance rests with Japan presently not even having opted for a nuclear weapons arsenal.

Japan going nuclear, and which I have been advocating right from 2002 onwards, would pose nightmares in Beijing.