Toward Japan-ROK Security Cooperation beyond Northeast Asia

Abstract

Security cooperation between Japan and the ROK has unfolded just withinNortheast Asia, rather than extending beyond the region. However, this does notmean that Japan-ROK cooperation beyond Northeast Asia is meaningless or impossible.In fact, such cooperation can play significant roles. First, the differences in attitudetoward regional security cooperation do not come from conflicts of interest, but fromdifferences in priorities. Since both countries depend on overseas trade in the Asia-Pacific region and energy supplies from the Middle East, the stability of sea lanes isa shared concern and cooperation in this regard will serve both countries’ nationalinterests.Second, with the “normalization” of Japan’s security policy and modernizationof the ROK navy and air force, both countries may have concerns about each other’sstrategic intentions. Japan-ROK cooperation beyond Northeast Asia, based onstrategic consensus on the importance of sea lanes, can reduce such suspicion onboth sides. Third, faced with the rising China, the coordination of both countries’policies toward China to increase the “partner” aspect will serve the interests oflong-term stability of the Asia-Pacific region. The Six-Party Talks play such a rolenow, but regional security cooperation beyond Northeast Asia will have broadereffects on the Asia-Pacific region.This paper argues that there is a way forward for Japan-ROK security cooperationbeyond Northeast Asia.