Section 1 Japan Strengthening Its Presence in the International Community

In recent years, the balance of power in the international community is shifting dramatically due to the rise of emerging countries among other factors, while inter-state competition, in which states seek to shape an international order to their advantage as well as increase their influence, is emerging more prominently. As uncertainty surrounding the existing order grows, protectionism and inward-looking trends are intensifying. Amid such a situation, the year 2020 saw the global spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which reaffirmed the importance of multilateralism in the face of crises that no single state can address on its own. Under these circumstances, Japan must take on a greater responsibility and roles than before, while collaborating with other countries, toward maintaining and advancing a free, fair and transparent rules-based international order. Based on this recognition, Japan, through a variety of initiatives as described below, has been strengthening its presence in the international community by emphasizing the rule of law, and pursuing consistent and stable diplomacy.

1 Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)

The Indo-Pacific is a region that supports half of the world's population, and an area of importance in security and economic terms that holds the key to global peace and prosperity. A “Free and Open Indo-Pacific,” which Japan has been promoting, is a vision for ensuring peace and prosperity in the entire region and beyond, through establishing a free and open order based on the rule of law. The vision is now shared by a number of countries. For example, the “Joint Statement of the 23rd ASEAN-Japan Summit on Cooperation on the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP),” which was adopted in November 2020, affirms that the AOIP and Japan's FOIP concept share relevant fundamental principles in promoting peace and cooperation, and declares that ASEAN and Japan will strengthen their strategic partnership through cooperation in the four areas outlined in the AOIP.¹

The relevance and significance of the vision are growing as we advance toward the post-COVID-19 era. Seizing every opportunity of bilateral and multilateral dialogues, including the Japan-Australia-India-U.S. meetings, Japan will advance coordination and cooperation with the U.S., Australia, India and ASEAN as well as countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

• 1 The four areas of maritime cooperation, connectivity, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and economic and other possible areas of cooperation