Japan’s Leadership Role in a Multipolar Indo-Pacific

No region will be more important to global peace and prosperity in the coming years than the Indo-Pacific, which has more geopolitical hotspots, emerging powers, overlapping political and economic partnerships, and risks of conflict than any other. The expansion of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has further increased the region’s geopolitical importance. This paper discusses regional dynamics, including the impacts of Covid-19, and emerging foreign policy initiatives, and offers recommendations for how Japan can solidify a comprehensive leadership role in a multipolar Indo-Pacific.