Europe is becoming increasingly cautious not only toward Russia but also toward China, and is reassessing Japan’s political importance.
Under the “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” vision, Japan is strengthening maritime cooperation with the United States, Australia, and India and assuming greater responsibility in maintaining the liberal world order.
This article explores the growing security cooperation between Japan and Western nations, including post-Brexit Britain.

Europe has become increasingly cautious not only toward Russia but also, in recent years, toward China, and has begun to reassess Japan’s political importance.
2018-01-10.
The following is a continuation of the previous chapter.

In this regard, the Abe administration, keeping China’s maritime expansion in mind, has put forward the concept of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” and is seeking to advance maritime cooperation with the United States, Australia, and India.

As a leader among liberal nations alongside Europe and the United States, Japan will assume even greater responsibility than before in maintaining and developing the liberal world order.
I believe this clearly expresses that stance.

In any case, Japan must continue to face the world with cooperation with Europe and the United States as its central axis.

Western countries as well, despite internal frictions, appear to be becoming more proactive in cooperating with Japan for the sake of the liberal world order.

The United States’ emphasis on the Asia-Pacific and on the Japan-U.S. alliance will not change even under President Trump, and Europe, not only wary of Russia but increasingly cautious of China as well, has begun to reassess Japan’s political importance.

The United Kingdom, following its departure from the EU, perhaps more strongly conscious of its role as “Global Britain,” has become proactive in security cooperation with distant Japan and seems to be adopting a posture that aims at a new era of the Japan-UK alliance.

If the pioneers of the Meiji era could see this situation, they would surely be deeply moved.

To be continued.