Analysis reveals shortcomings in Japan’s strategy documents, suggesting need for more independent security approaches.
Japan’s Three Strategy Documents released in 2022 mark a postwar milestone. However, this article argues that they fall short of addressing Japan’s most pressing security dilemmas. Drawing on historical and policy analysis, it finds significant continuity and Japan’s persistent dependence on the United States. With US reliability increasingly uncertain, this article proposes “strategic autonomy” as a necessary alternative and offers recommendations for a more adaptive and independent Japanese grand strategy suited to a changing regional order.
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Masahiro Matsumura (2026) studied this question.
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