Publication

This paper analyzes Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's December 2013 national security agenda, which seeks to strengthen the US-Japan alliance and other powers to address the rise of China. The author says that Abe plans to achieve his aim through strengthening Japan's economy and reforming its national security institutions. However, he also suggests that Japan's ability to do this is limited and that the country not only needs help in resisting possible Chinese coercion, but also its efforts in refining its foreign policy and in seeking a stable relationship with Beijing.