Japan’s China Strategy: Cultivating Partnerships in the Global South as Part of the Hedging Strategy

The rivalry between the United States (US) and China, along with Russia’s war against Ukraine, risks the bifurcation of the world. The expanded membership of BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is in opposition to the Group of Seven (G7) and US leadership, while small and middle powers try to find a middle ground and pursue independent foreign policies. This article analyzes Japan’s foreign policy strategy vis-à-vis China under the Kishida government (2021-2024), within the broader hedging-versus-balancing debate, against the background of growing bifurcation. The study argues that, during the Kishida government, Japan continued its conventional hedging strategy, centering on a mix of internal balancing against China, as well as economic engagement of China. Most notably, Kishida’s strategy added new initiatives in the Global South to Japan’s hedging menu, motivated by Japan’s economic, security, and diplomatic interests.