The Rise of a “Middle Power”? Japan’s Role in Preserving TPP11

Abstract

Since Trump’s term commenced in 2017, Japan attempted to be an advocate of the rule-based trade order even though protectionism has prevailed in the world. Behind such an unanticipated shift in Japan’s diplomatic policy, the difficulties of Japan’s position in the world order with regards to two superpowers, the US and China, were observed. Due to the constraints posed by the superpowers, Japan emerged in the 2010s as a “middle power” that advocated liberal international order. It recognised that leading CPTPP negotiation and concluding it was a historic success in its post-war diplomacy. Although that was a historic moment for post-war Japan, it does not ensure that CPTPP will always be the best option for its “middle-power” diplomacy. Under the heightened tensions in the Asia–Pacific region, the direction Japan’s middle-power diplomacy will take is still uncertain.