Editor's Choice: A look at current academic articles on Australia and the Asia Pacific region
Mulgan, AG – ‘Why Japan Still Matters’, Asia Pacific Review (12:2) November 2005
Aurelia Mulgan addresses the increasingly prevalent opinion that China’s rise in East Asia is eclipsing Japan’s position as a power in world politics.
Her article contends that Japan is, and will continue to be, both a great power in East Asia, and an important player in world politics. While the world may be focusing its attention upon China and its rapid rise, Mulgan reminds us that Japan remains the pre-eminent power in East Asia, the United States’ most important partner in the Asia-Pacific, and that Japan is still an emerging rather than a diminishing power.
Her argument is based on several points of economic capacity and continued growth, military strength and capabilities, nuclear potential, and its favourable diplomatic position.
Mulgan thus concludes that instead of viewing Japan through the prism of China’s rise, we must draw attention to Japan’s continuing prominence as a regional and global player, as well as recognising that China’s rise indeed makes Japan more important as a regional balance.
Her article reminds us that there are many factors beyond economic growth figures one must take into account before relegating Japan to China’s shadow in East Asian politics.
Luke Easey
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Posted by: fhvmkxous zaoemrku | February 22, 2009 at 06:32 PM