Japan and Southeast Asia: From the Fukuda Doctrine to Abe’s Five Principles

Abstract

The Fukuda Doctrine, announced in 1974, marked a new beginning in the relations of Japan with Southeast Asia and was determinant in their relations for the following decades. By the end of the 90s the combined pressures of Japan’s stagnating economy and an emergent China showed the need of a reinvigorated strategy toward S.E.A. Primer Minister Junichiro Koizumi tried to bring about such a strategy and introduced new directions in two areas: security issues and economic partnership. Seven years after Koizumi, the new government of Shinzo Abe finds that the same geopolitical constraints of the late 90s are still alive.