Policy emulation and vested interests: Japan’s strategic response to economic security amid US–China technology competition

China’s growing technological power and the resulting US–China rivalry prompted various countries, including Japan, to adopt necessary countermeasures. This study examines Japan’s strategic approach to economic security and technology policy under the framework of policy emulation and vested interests. The US–China technology competition urged Japan to reformulate its technological strategies with the aim of reducing economic dependence on China. Japan’s policy reactions are characterized by policy emulation with two orientations: rational emulation to follow the US policy developments and symbolic imitation as a way of reverting to the previous industrial policy. Concurrently, Japan’s policy initiatives were constrained by vested interests to maintain stable economic relations with China and past cooperative practices formed by the Japanese business group.