Xu Mei: Under the new situation, Japan has strengthened economic security and its impact
Author: Xu Mei is a researcher at the Institute of Japanese Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
Source: Journal of Japanese Studies, No. 1, 2022; Institute of Japanese Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
WeChat platform editor: Zhou Yue
Abstract: With the vigorous rise of the scientific and technological revolution and the industrial revolution, the international economic order is facing profound adjustments, geopolitical conflicts have intensified, and the Sino-US game has become long-term. The onset and spread of COVID-19 in 2020 has further fueled these trends. Growing uncertainties and risks are potential factors constraining the sustained and stable development of economies. Under this situation, major countries and regions have strengthened their economic activities from the perspective of security and guarantees, and sought a new balance between development and security. In recent years, Japan has continuously improved and perfected economic and security policies and regulations, strengthened relevant government functions, and strived to enhance its autonomy in key technologies, supply chains, strategic resources, etc., while strengthening cooperation with "like-minded countries" such as Europe and the United States, promoting the formation of international rules and orders that conform to Japan's interests, and realizing Japan's "indispensable" presence in the international community and its national strategy. Japan's strengthening of economic security will have some impact on itself, the region and the world.
Keywords: economic security; Technology; Supply Chain; International rules; Autonomy; Indispensable
Under the situation of high economic globalization, rapid development of the scientific and technological revolution, and accelerated reconstruction of the international order, it is increasingly difficult for political and military means to ensure national security, and more and more economic means are needed to achieve the goal. As an island country with scarce resources and a small market, Japan's energy and raw materials necessary for its economic development after World War II are largely dependent on the international market, and an important goal of its foreign policy is to maintain a free trade system to ensure the stable supply of domestic resources and sell domestically produced industrial products overseas. Therefore, "the operation of strategic ideas and policies to ensure economic security has long run through the entire development process of Japan."
I. The Theoretical Logic of Japan's Economic Security Guarantee and the Evolution of Postwar Policies
Economic strength is the foundation of comprehensive national strength. In the context of globalization, the economic field has become the forefront of international conflicts, and countries and regions regard it as an important part of national security guarantees. The use of economic means to ensure national security has always existed, and napoleon's invasion of Britain was blocked in the early 19th century, and France and its allies took measures such as banning imports from Britain and exporting food to Britain, which became a typical example of early economic security.
(1) The definition of "economic security guarantees" and related theoretical logic
There is still no clear and uniform definition of "economic security", and there are many perspectives on its cognition and understanding, including broad and narrow, economic and non-economic, domestic and international, subjective and objective, static and dynamic. Japanese scholar Masayoshi Takasaka believes that security assurances are divided into narrow and broad senses, and narrow security guarantees refer to military security, while broad security guarantees include economic security. As a maritime nation, Japan's economic security is of paramount importance and it must maintain its free trade regime.
According to the policy direction, Nakamura Naoki divides "economic security" into three categories: "economic statecraft", strengthening economic resilience and industrial competitiveness, and strengthening and restructuring the international economic system.
How to evaluate economic security policies has always been a difficult point. Due to the different understandings of "economic security" in different countries, the nature and direction of relevant policies will be different, so it is necessary to understand and evaluate the policy intentions, goals and effects of various countries in multiple dimensions. First of all, the issue of economic security is difficult to systematize, and there has always been a "gray area".
One thing that can be determined is that under the conditions of the market economy, strengthening economic security is actually adjusting the proportion of the combination between government intervention in economic life and market mechanism, that is, relatively increasing the component of government intervention. Based on the basic theory of economics, the scope of economic security is too large, which means that the government is too involved in economic activities, which will affect the role of the market mechanism, which is not conducive to improving industrial competitiveness and promoting economic growth. As the American economist Stiglitz put it, "Government intervention is not perfect, it breeds waste and inefficiency, which is true."
(2) The evolution of Japan's economic security policy after the war
Japan was one of the first countries to pay attention to the relationship between economy and security, to explore the issue of economic security and to use economic means to ensure security. After World War II, Japan, as a defeated country, was subject to the "Peace Constitution" and needed to be "compliant and legal" in formulating and implementing security policies. Because "the scale of Japan's national defense armament is far from enough to defend national security by the strength of one country, it is impossible to achieve a full allocation of national defense forces." Only by interdependence and cooperation with countries with similar interests can national security be safeguarded."
With the collapse of the Bretton Woods monetary system and the outbreak of the oil crisis in the early 1970s, Japan's economic security began to receive more attention. In the context of the international economic system being shaken and the world economy in a downturn, the US trade policy tends to shift from free trade to "fair trade", requiring Japan and other trade partners to implement the same opening measures to the United States while enjoying the conditions of US market access to promote its exports. At the same time, Japan's economic growth has slowed down, and problems such as the accumulated public nuisances during the period of high-speed economic growth have become prominent, and the period when the international environment is favorable to Japan has passed. "Changes in international politics have revived the relevance of political and economic considerations, political and economic behaviors",
As Japan took the lead in emerging from the oil crisis, its industrial competitiveness further enhanced, and by the mid-1980s, it had basically achieved its goal of catching up with and surpassing developed countries in Europe and the United States. In 1983, Japan's "Diplomatic Blue Book" declared, "From an economic point of view, Japan has achieved post-war economic recovery, and now its gross national product accounts for about 1/10 of the world's total domestic product, and its status as an economic power is unshakable." In recent years, countries have increasingly expected and recognized that Japan should play a political role."
In the early 1990s, with the end of the Cold War, the traditional military threat decreased, and new military threats such as the proliferation of nuclear weapons and terrorist attacks, as well as non-military threats such as environmental change, refugee migration, and transnational crime, gradually increased. At the same time, the rapid development of economic internationalization has increased external risks. In the United States, the policy of subordinating economic security to military security has changed, and the policy theory of "economic strategy" has become increasingly influential. In 1993, the Clinton administration established the National Economic Council (NEC), the supreme body for economic security assurances, which is on the same level as the National Security Council (NSC). In 1994, the United States issued the National Security Strategy Report, which for the first time listed economic security as a pillar of the national security strategy, involving economic issues such as improving the competitiveness of the United States, expanding foreign markets, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the Uruguay Round negotiations, and energy security.
At the beginning of the 21st century, the United States suffered from the "9/11 terrorist attacks", and non-traditional security issues have increasingly become a major threat facing countries and regions. China joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) and is increasingly integrated into the international economic and trade system, surpassing Japan in total economic output in 2010 to become the world's second largest economy. Although Japan's position in the world economy has declined relatively, its willingness to become a "normal country" has become stronger. In December 2013, Japan's National Security Council (NSC) was officially launched, consisting of the Prime Minister, chief cabinet secretary, foreign minister, and minister of defense, which played a central role, formulated the basic direction of foreign policy, decided on national security policies, and promulgated the first "National Security Guarantee Strategy (NSS)Draft". In April 2014, the Cabinet of Ministers of Japan adopted the "Three Principles for the Transfer of Defense Equipment," which substantially promoted the export of Japanese weapons, equipment, and parts. In September 2015, the Abe government forcibly passed the "Act on Security and Security", which led to major changes in Japan's defensive security policy after the war, and the initiative of economic diplomacy and economic security policies also appeared, especially in the field of foreign trade and economic cooperation. As early as the 1960s, Japan proposed the idea of economic cooperation in the Pacific region. In October 2002, japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued the FTA/EPA for the first time with the rise of the trend of global free trade agreements (FTAs) and regional economic integration
In summary, it can be seen that the security problems and policy thinking faced by Japan in different periods are different, and its economic security policy is a strategic choice based on the development and change of the situation, based on its own situation, and adjusts and changes with the changes of the times.
Second, under the new situation, Japan's trend and trend of strengthening economic security guarantees
History and practice have shown that every major progress in science and technology and profound changes in the international order will also bring new threats to human security. In recent years, under the situation that a new round of scientific and technological revolution has swept the world, the balance of power of major powers has changed, the restructuring of the international order has accelerated, and the internal and external environment has been complex and changeable, the security risks faced by all countries have increased and infiltrated in new forms. As a result, some countries, including Japan, have begun to strengthen economic activities from the perspective of security and security.
(1) The background of Japan's strengthening of economic security guarantees
1. The meaning of national security guarantees under the new scientific and technological revolution is extended
With the rapid development of informatization, digitization and intelligence, the division of labor in the industrial chain is being reshaped, and the fields that constitute the basis of national survival are no longer limited to traditional grain, resources, etc., but also include specific manufacturing capabilities, high and new technologies, space, cyberspace and other fields. At the same time, the national defense role of civilian technology has received more and more attention, the integration of military technology and civilian technology has deepened, artificial intelligence-centered digital technology has been increasingly applied to the military field, and the combination of economy and security has become closer.
In the face of such a changing situation, Japan began to re-examine the connotation of national security guarantees, explore a higher level of national strategic concept, adjust policies and systems related to security guarantees, and especially seek to strategically ensure the country's independent survival and further prosperity from the economic aspect. In April 2020, at the inauguration ceremony of the new "Economic Class" established by the Japanese National Security Agency, Yoshihide Suga, then Chief Cabinet Secretary, said, "The connotation of security is rapidly expanding to the economic and technological fields, and it is necessary to rationally design the system from the perspective of security and security for the movement of people, materials, currencies, and data between Japan and the world."
2. Japan's national strategic adjustment has accelerated under the change of the international order
After World War II, Japan experienced economic revival and rapid growth after defeat, and jumped to become a world economic power in a relatively short period of time. Japan's great economic success led to a resurgence of self-confidence, a rise in nationalism, and growing voices seeking political power status, changing the image of a defeated country, and getting rid of the "post-war system." In 1992, Japan's "Diplomatic Blue Book" clearly stated for the first time that Japan should play a leading role commensurate with its own national strength. In 1993, the famous politician Ichiro Ozawa wrote an article calling for Japan to change the situation of "first-class economy and third-rate politics" and strive to become a "normal country". Since then, Japan's strategic demands have become increasingly strong.
The change of the international order is a major factor inducing the adjustment of national economic and security relations, while ensuring economic security is related to the overall situation of national strategy. Under the unprecedented changes in a century, the scientific and technological revolution and industrial revolution have risen vigorously, and emerging economies such as China have developed rapidly, which has shaken the original international order and intensified geopolitical conflicts. Japan's national strategy has entered an important historical turning point, and its strategic approach has shifted from post-war pacifism to "active pacifism" in order to "ultimately achieve the goal of 'normal countries', actively participate in the construction of the international order, and in the process complete the metamorphosis of its post-war history." To this end, "Japan has adjusted its domestic system, lifted its security 'forbidden zone', implemented an active diplomatic and security strategy, strengthened the Japan-US alliance, built a new geopolitical alliance, and actively participated in the restructuring of the international pattern and international order."
3. Under the new crown pneumonia epidemic, the risks of Japan's supply chain are prominent
The supply chain involves the entire process of commodity development, procurement of raw materials and parts, production, warehouse management, distribution, sales, consumption, etc., until the goods finally reach the hands of consumers. Supply chain risks mainly have several categories: first, environmental risks such as natural disasters and infectious diseases; second, geopolitical risks such as terrorist attacks and political instability; third, economic risks such as economic crises and fluctuations in raw material prices; and fourth, technical risks such as network supply and system obstacles. The earthquake in Japan on March 11, 2011, and the floods in Thailand in the second half of the same year, which once caused some industrial supply chains in Japan to break, but were quickly recovered.
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges to global industrial supply chains. The repeated mutations of the virus and the epidemic have caused poor or even blocked logistics, chaotic supply chains, and slowed down production and economic activities in many countries and regions, exposing the drawbacks of industrial and economic dependence on foreign countries in the context of globalization. In order to ensure economic security and enhance industrial competitiveness, Japan has re-examined the supply chain issue and focused on promoting the localization, regionalization and decentralization of its industrial layout in order to enhance the resilience and autonomy of the Japanese economy.
4. Major countries in the United States and Europe have strengthened economic security guarantees
The United States is one of the earliest countries to attach importance to economic security, and Japan often emulates the United States in terms of security institutions, policies, and system construction, and the evolution of its postwar foreign and security policy is also deeply influenced by the United States. In recent years, the United States has revised and promulgated a series of laws and policies related to economic security and security. In December 2017, the Trump administration released a new version of the National Security Strategy Report, and in August 2018 passed the National Defense Authorization Act, which includes the Export Administration Reform Act (ECRA) and the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act (FIRRMA). The National Defense Authorization Act stipulates that the United States strengthens the export control of new technologies and supporting basic technologies; for those transactions that may control mergers and acquisitions of U.S. enterprises, the acquisition of resolution rights or agency rights, etc., must be declared in advance; foreign enterprises are obliged to make investments in important infrastructure, technology, sensitive personal information, etc. in the United States, and the scope of post-intervention is expanded. In February 2021, President Biden issued an executive order to review key supply chains and key industries in phases, requiring government departments to submit supply chain risks and response reports on important products and raw materials such as semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, large-capacity batteries, rare earths and other important products and raw materials within 100 days, and to submit risk response plans for basic areas such as defense, information and communication technology, energy, transportation, crops and food within one year. In June of the same year, the U.S. Senate passed the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act of 2021, which will invest more than $200 billion in subsidies in semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), 5G communications and other fields.
Europe is also a region of focus for Japan. In April 2019, the European Investment Rules came into force and apply to all EU members from October 2020. By the end of fiscal 2020, 19 EU member states have introduced investment screening systems, and France has also listed AI, robotics, semiconductors and other fields as the subject of prior review of investment. In May 2021, the EUROPEAN Union released a new version of the EU Industrial Strategy Report, which analyzes the dependence of strategic products and raw materials such as batteries and semiconductors on the outside region. Of the EU's 5,200 imports, 137 were identified as highly dependent on imports, of which 34 were classified as difficult to replace, including energy-related raw materials, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and raw drugs.
It can be seen that while supporting the focus areas of their own high-tech competition, the major countries in the United States and Europe are also tightening their foreign economic and trade policies, such as restricting the export of high-tech products, increasing the intensity of foreign investment review, and reducing the dependence on the import of key products and raw materials. In this situation, Japan has also actively strengthened economic security guarantees, and some changes and trends have emerged.
(2) Trends and trends in Strengthening Economic Security in Japan
The world is "entering an era of 'economic security' in which the economy and security are closely integrated."
1. Strengthen laws and policies on economic security guarantees
FDI, particularly M&A, is an important way to acquire technology. Since 2017, in the name of economic security, Japan has continuously revised and strengthened its basic law governing trade and investment, the Foreign Exchange Law. For example, on the basis of specific industries such as aircraft, weapons and equipment, and nuclear-related industries, the fields of manufacturing, software development, and information processing services such as integrated circuits and semiconductor memory have been added; foreign enterprises in these fields have been strengthened to supervise their investment in Japan, requiring them to declare and be subject to review by the Japanese government in advance; raising the threshold for investment in Japan to obtain shares; and if equity transactions are determined to be likely to endanger national security, Japan has the right to require investors to adjust or suspend transactions. After the outbreak of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, drugs and medical devices related to infectious diseases have also been included in the control objects. The revised Foreign Exchange Law also strictly restricts the spillover of important sensitive and military technologies, increases penalties for illegal acts, and raises the upper limit of fines from the previous 10 million yen to 30 million yen.
In addition, in June 2021, Japan passed the Land Use Regulation Act, which sets the perimeter of the SDF base and nuclear power plant as a "concern area" based on safety and security considerations, and strictly controls the purchase of land in the "concern area" by foreign investment. In order to prevent the flow of excellent plant varieties abroad, Japan has revised and improved the Seedling Law. At the same time, the relevant departments of the Japanese government have successively strengthened economic security and guarantee policies, such as the report "New Axis of Economic and Industrial Policy" issued by the Industrial Structure Council of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, which clearly pointed out that Japan's "new industrial policy is different from the traditional industrial revitalization and protection policy, and also different from the structural reform that relatively reduces government participation, but is oriented to the key technical areas, strategic materials, rules and systems to solve future social and economic problems, focusing on climate change countermeasures, economic security, and narrowing gaps."
2. Complete and improve economic security and guarantee functions
Various departments of the Japanese government have improved and strengthened their economic security functions. In June 2019, the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Industry set up a new "Economic Security Room" to formulate and coordinate relevant policies. In October of the same year, the Comprehensive Foreign Policy Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reorganized the former Cosmic Cyber Attack Policy Office, the Maritime Security Policy Office, and the International Peace Cooperation Office, and newly established the Security Policy Research Room, the Cosmic and Maritime Security Policy Office, and the International Peace and Security Guarantee Cooperation Office, which are responsible for responding to economic, technological, and cyber attacks in the new era. According to relevant media reports, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and the Public Security Investigation Department are also studying the establishment of new organizations and new posts related to economic security and security.
What is particularly interesting is that in April 2020, Japan's National Security Agency set up a new "economic class", the staff of which is mainly from the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Industry, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of General Affairs, which is conducive to breaking the isolation between government departments and promoting communication and cooperation between various departments in the field of economic security and security. The "Economic Class" is responsible for coordinating and deploying major policies related to economic security, managing network security, intellectual property rights and responding to the epidemic, and planning and drafting the first National Economic Security Strategy. Japan also plans to draw personnel from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and other departments to continue to expand the strength of the "economic class" and further strengthen the security of grain, oceans, and so on. With the formation of the cabinet by new Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in October 2021, Japan has for the first time established the post of minister of economic security and security, once again showing its strategic intention to strengthen economic security.
3. Vigorously cultivate and control sensitive core technologies
Science and technology are important national security assets and key areas for the economic security and security policies of various countries. In the face of the new situation, the Japanese government has actively promoted high-tech research and development and increased capital investment. In March 2021, the Japanese Cabinet meeting discussed and approved the Sixth Basic Plan for Science and Technology Innovation (FY2021-2025), which aims to invest 30 trillion yen in research and development funds in the next five years, and if private R&D expenditure is added, the total amount will reach 120 trillion yen.
In order to improve the efficiency of military technology research and development, since 2015, Japan's Ministry of Defense has introduced a security technology research promotion system to fund universities, research institutions, enterprises and other high-tech research and development of artificial intelligence, communications and other high-tech for military use. Among the 109 basic projects applied for the first time, nine Japanese institutions and companies, including Tokyo Institute of Technology, Kanagawa University of Technology, Riken Institute of Science and Chemistry, Aerospace Exploration Agency, Fujitsu, and Panasonic, won the bid.
4. Industrial policy emphasizes "strategic autonomy" and "indispensability"
Strategic materials and "strategic basic industries" such as energy (including electricity), communications, transportation, food, medical care, finance, and logistics
In terms of emergency supplies, rare metals, and energy, Japan relies heavily on overseas supplies. Taking rare earths as an example, China is the world's largest producer of rare earths, and for a long time, Japan's rare earth imports have a high degree of dependence on China. In 2006, China implemented the "Eleventh Five-Year Plan", which clearly proposed to strengthen the protection of rare earths and other rare metals. From the perspective of ensuring national security, Japan began to deliberately reduce its dependence on rare earths in China. In July 2009, Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry issued the "Rare Metals Guarantee Strategy", proposing measures to promote the exploitation of resources such as rare earths on the seabed, the development of overseas resources, recycling, the development of alternative materials and reserves.
The normal operation of the supply chain is the basic condition for the stable development of the industry and the economy. In 2018, after the sino-US trade friction, the additional tariff measures taken by the two sides affected Japanese companies. China is Japan's largest trading partner, Japan's trade with China accounts for about 1/5 of its foreign trade, automobile-related products, protective equipment and other imports from China accounted for a higher proportion, such as Japan's imports of auto parts more than 1/3 from China, more than 3/4 of the imported masks from China.
5. Strengthen cooperation with the United States and other "like-minded countries"
Most of the contemporary international rules are dominated and formulated by Western countries such as the United States. Japan views countries such as Europe and the United States as "like-minded countries" with common values. In July 2020, the Japanese Cabinet meeting discussed and adopted the Basic Policy for Economic and Fiscal Operation Reform, proposing to promote supply chain diversification, strengthen cooperation with "like-minded countries", and promote the formation of international rules that conform to Japan's national interests to ensure national economic security. The Japan-US alliance was the backbone of Japan's diplomacy and security after the war, and the focus of this policy has not changed under the new situation. During Abe's second reign, Japan cooperated militarily with the United States in missile defense, ballistic missile interception, F-35 fighter jets, and other projects, and signed a Japan-U.S. trade agreement with the United States economically. At the end of 2019, 42 members of the Wassenaar Agreement, including Japan and the United States, agreed to include semiconductor substrate manufacturing for military purposes and military software technologies for cyberattacks as export control targets. In April 2021, during then-Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's visit to the United States, the heads of state of Japan and the United States reached an agreement on key technologies and semiconductor supply chain cooperation, and announced that they would jointly invest US$4.5 billion to strengthen cooperation in the digital field.
Not only that, Japan and the United States have also actively promoted the strategic interaction between Japan, the United States, India and Australia, trying to use this platform to contain and suppress China. In March 2021, at the first online leaders' summit of the Quad Security Dialogue (QUAD) composed of Japan, the United States, India and Australia, Suga criticized China by name, expressing concern about the newly promulgated China Coast Guard Law and China's internal affairs such as Hong Kong and Xinjiang, and the joint statement after the meeting actually pointed to China. In September 2021, at the first offline leaders' summit of the "Quadrilateral Security Dialogue" between Japan, the United States, the United States, India and Australia, Japan and the United States, India and Australia reached cooperation agreements in high-tech fields such as cybersecurity, 5G applications, space technology, synthetic biology, genome sequencing and biomanufacturing, showing a trend of jointly accelerating the development of high-tech and curbing China's development. The strengthening of the Japan-US-India-Australia cooperation mechanism has not only led to tension in the relations between the four countries and China, but also is not conducive to regional stability and development.
Third, the impact of Japan's strengthening of economic security guarantees
In recent years, Japan has continuously strengthened economic security, sought scientific and technological advantages, maintained industrial competitiveness, enhanced economic autonomy, and strengthened cooperation with Europe and the United States and other countries to participate in and lead the reshaping of international rules and the international order to enhance its own sense of existence. These trends will have some impact on Japan, and will also affect the development of related countries, regions and even the world.
First, safeguard Japan's national interests and accelerate the promotion of the national strategy.
The ultimate goal of guaranteeing national security is to achieve the national strategic objectives, and ensuring national interests is the benchmark for achieving the national strategic objectives. According to official Japanese documents
Against the backdrop of anti-globalization, rising trade protectionism, and intensified great power games, nationalism has a growing influence on politics. After Shinzo Abe came to power for the second time, he openly proposed a national strategic policy of "positive pacifism". Japan is pursuing national independence by adopting a more proactive foreign policy and foreign strategy to rid itself of the "post-war system" and its influence. Amending the "Peace Constitution" is an important strategic goal of Japan in the new era, and Japan has accelerated the expansion of the military and revised the constitution during the Abe cabinet. Under the Sino-US game and the new crown pneumonia epidemic, the change of the international political and economic order has accelerated, and Japan has also accelerated the adjustment of its national strategy. As soon as Prime Minister Kishida took office, he made strengthening economic security one of the government's top priorities, and tried to increase defense spending, promote the process of constitutional revision, and seek strategic initiative in shaping the new international order.
Second, strengthen the resilience of the Japanese economy and resist risks and uncertainties.
Under the background of accelerating the digital transformation of the economy, deepening the integration of military-civilian technologies, speeding up the adjustment of national strategies, and highlighting supply chain risks, Japan has adjusted its national security protection measures through the function of resource allocation, paying special attention to seeking strategic improvement of risk response capabilities from the economic aspect to reduce external shocks and maintain stable economic and social development. In view of the fact that scientific and technological competitiveness is the key to competition in the economic, political, and military security fields, and is also an important factor in triggering international frictions, while actively promoting high-tech research and development, Japan has successively introduced some measures to prevent the spillover of sensitive technologies, the purpose of which is to maintain Japan's technological superiority and industrial competitiveness in the world.
For those resources necessary for economic development, supply chains and other key links, the more representative view of the Japanese official is that "one is to reserve, and the other is to build a supply chain with the allies." Minimize supply chain dependencies between Japan and non-allies, and if supply chains must be formed with these countries, develop relevant alternatives as much as possible."
Third, participate in and lead the reshaping of rules, and enhance the sense of regional and international existence.
Grasping the power of international rule-making can expand the space of national interests and promote the transformation of the global competitive landscape in a direction conducive to national interests. This is more important than mere economic and trade growth and is a major indicator of the status of a great power. Every major change in the international order in history has triggered fierce competition for international rules. Under the century-old changes, Japan's foreign strategy "advocates rules-based sustainable development, establishes a crisis management system through international cooperation, strengthens cooperation with like-minded countries," and promotes economic security and security cooperation, so as to serve as two wheels to lead the formation of the future international order."
Promoting the FTA/EPA strategy, regional economic integration, and global governance is an important manifestation of Japan's participation in the formation of international economic and trade rules. As of March 2021, Japan has entered into force and signed a total of 21 FTAs/EPAs, covering 80.4% of its foreign trade.
Fourth, reduce economic and trade dependence on China, balance and weaken China's influence.
After Trump, the Biden administration continued to implement a policy of suppression and containment against China. In March 2021, the United States released the Guidelines for the National Security Security Strategy (Provisional), which sees China as "the only competitor that can continue to challenge a stable and open international system through economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power."
In terms of supply chain restructuring, Japan and ASEAN reached the "Economic Recovery Action Plan" in July 2020, and in April 2021, Australia and India announced the launch of the "Supply Chain Resilience Initiative" (SCRI), all of which involve regional supply chain issues. At the Japan-U.S.-India-Australia "Quadripartite Security Dialogue" summit held in September 2021, many topics were closely related to China, such as launching semiconductor supply chain plans, ensuring the supply chain security of semiconductors and their important components, and joining hands to build a rare earth supply chain, although it was not explicitly aimed at China, but in fact it had the greatest impact on China, and it is likely to weaken China's position in related fields and delay the development process. In terms of network construction and digital economy transformation, Japan has also actively assisted countries such as Southeast Asia to prevent China from combining strong government leadership with industrial competitive advantages and exporting "Chinese standards" and "China models" to the outside world, thereby weakening Japan's presence in the region.
It is worth noting that Japan also has a different side from the United States in its China policy. Yoichi Funabashi, a well-known Foreign Policy expert in Japan, believes that the best way for Japan to get along with China now is to treat them as "ordinary friends" to promote competition between China and the United States rather than confrontation.
Fifth, it has intensified great power competition and contradictions, triggering regional and international tensions.
Due to the limited development of military power, after the war, Japan has always attached importance to the military-civilian integration of industrial technology, and private enterprises have mastered a large number of technologies that can be converted into military use, and many of these technologies in Japan have also been used by the United States in the field of national defense. In the 1970s, Japan's electronic technology became competitive in the international market, and in the early 1980s, its semiconductor memory DRAM market share surpassed that of the United States and ranked first in the world, and by 1986 this share was as high as about 80%.
In view of the above situation, coupled with the rapid development of science and technology, the boundary between civilian technology and military technology has become more and more blurred, strengthening economic security and expanding the scope of protection objects will lead to the arbitrary tendency of relevant policies, politicize economic issues and then cause disputes. Not only that, in the name of national economic security, Japan can more flexibly use economic diplomacy tools such as ODA and economic sanctions to apply civilian technology more to the military field and enhance Japan's defense force. This would undermine political mutual trust among states, exacerbate the arms race among major powers, and destabilize and complicate the regional and international security situation.
Sixth, it is contrary to the principles of market economy and free trade, affects the efficiency of enterprises and is easy to form interest groups.
In the long run, the government's adjustment of policies and systems in the name of security and security, and the strengthening of the review and intervention of economic activities, will distort market behavior, reduce the degree of opening up to the outside world and the efficiency of economic operation, and will also add barriers to normal scientific and technological economic and trade exchanges, weaken the business environment of the country, and affect the inflow of foreign capital and talents. Under the situation of long-term competition between China and the United States, the continuation of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, and the strengthening of economic security guarantees in major countries, the global industrial chain supply chain has become more complex, the availability of markets and technologies has weakened, and the previous production centers are relatively concentrated in a few areas and the efficiency-first operation mode is changing. In the industrial layout, the weight of cost factors declines, while the consideration factors of cost and industrial security rise, which will have a negative impact on market efficiency and the international economic and trade system.
Expanding the scope of supervision of trade, investment, technology, etc. on the grounds of safety and security, and strengthening the "autonomy" of industry and economy, is actually the implementation of industrial policies with protective colors. Some products and technologies have become the object of restrictions or sanctions, and related companies will be forced to adjust their business strategies, for example, for parts with shortage of supply or supply risks such as semiconductor chips, they need to maintain a certain inventory and supply chain diversification. This will increase the operating costs of enterprises, and eventually pass them on to consumers, and it is also easy to form a large interest group, challenging the existing market order and supervision. As the economist Gary S. Becker puts it, "When economic issues have to be decided from a political perspective, consumer interests are often ignored and the interests of special groups such as labor and manufacturers are taken into account."
From the above, it can be seen that the fundamental purpose of Japan's strengthening of economic security is to obtain national interests and achieve national strategic goals. No matter how The political situation in Japan changes in the future, under the situation of increasingly fierce scientific and technological competition among major powers, accelerating the restructuring of the international order, unstoppable momentum of China's development, and rising social trends of Japan's pursuit of national existence and independence, strengthening economic security is a major trend for Japan's future development.
exegesis
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6. Naoki Nakamura: Toward the Re-establishment of Concepts and The Establishment of a Consistent Policy System:-Legislation and Review, October 2020, pp. 118, p. 119, and 131.
7 He Weida et al., National Industrial Security and Economic Growth in the Context of Globalization, Beijing: Intellectual Property Press, 2016, p. 10.
8 Yuzo Murayama: Making use of Japan's "Strategic Essentials" ⌟, Voice, February 2021, p. 46.
9 Gary Clyde Hofbauer, Jeffrey M. J. Moster, Kimberly Ann Elliott, Rethinking Economic Sanctions, translated by Tao Du, Shanghai: Shanghai People's Publishing House, 2019, p. 186.
10 Stiglitz, Why the Government Intervenes in the Economy: The Role of The Government in the Market Economy, translated by Zheng Bingwen, Beijing: China Material Publishing House, 1998, p. 97.
11 Shigeru Yoshida: The World and Japan, translated by Yuan Yaqiong, Shanghai: Shanghai People's Publishing House, 2020, p. 117.
12 Masayoshi Takasaka: On the Decline and Fall of Civilization, translated by Zhou Junyu, Beijing: Beijing Times Chinese Literature Bureau, 2013, p. 211.
13. "Annual Notice of Energy in Reiwa 2019" (White Paper on Energy 2020), Nissyu Printing Publishing Co., Ltd., 2020, pp. 106.
14The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, "Diplomacy Blueprint 1983 Edition", Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Fundamentals of Our Diplomacy ⌟⌟, https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/gaiko/bluebook/1983/s58-contents .htm [2021-11-19].
15 Wang Weizhi, "Japan's Economic Security Policy", Asia-Pacific Economics, No. 1, 1986, pp. 21-22.
16⌜ On "New Economy and Society or Seven Paintings of the Year", http://www.ipss.go.jp/publication/j/shiryou/no.13/data/shiryou/souron/8.pdf on August 10, 1979 [2021-10-25].
17The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, "Diplomatic Blueprint 1981 Edition", Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Fundamentals of Our Diplomacy ⌟⌟, https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/gaiko/bluebook/1981/s56-contents.htm [2021-11-19].
18The White House,“A National Security Strategy ofEngagement and Enlargement”,Historical Office,Office of the Secretary ofDefence,July 1994,pp.15-7.
Hasegawa 19 Masanori 19: Four Questions on Economic Sanctions: Shonan University of Technology, Vol.52, Vol. 1, February 2018, pp. 103-104.
20. Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology White Paper, https://warp.ndl.go.jp/info:ndljp/pid/11293659/www.mext.go.jp/b_menu/hakusho/html/hpaa199501/index.html [2021-10-27].
21 Japan emphasizes the conclusion of high-quality, wide-ranging FTAs, known as "economic partnership agreements" (EPAs). According to the definition of Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, an EPA is "an agreement between two or more specific countries for the purpose of promoting trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, removing domestic restrictions, harmonizing various economic systems, and strengthening broad economic ties."
22 JETRO, World Trade and Investment Notice, 2011 Edition, JETRO Overseas Inspection Department Publishing, 2011, p. 55.
23⌜The National Security Agency has set up an economic group, NHK, April 6, 2020, https://www.nhk.or.jp/politics/articles/statement/33202.html [2021-11-10].
24 Naoki Nakamura⌜ Economic Security: Toward a Re-establishment of Concepts and a Consistent Policy System-⌟, Legislation and Investigation, No. 10, 2020, pp.119.
25 Sun Cheng, National Strategic Studies in Japan, Beijing: China Social Sciences Press, 2020, pp. 10-14.
26 "The U.S. Senate Passes the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act of 2021 A New Round of "National System" of Science and Technology and Industry Begins to Be Constructed," The Paper, June 11, 2021, https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_13116816 [2021-11-11].
27 Ministry of Economy and Industry, "Reiwa 3-Year Trade White Paper", June 2021, https://www.meti.go.jp/report/tsuhaku2021/pdf/2021_zentai.pdf [2021-11-11].
28⌜Japan in the era of "Economic Security", Voice, No. 6, 2020, p. 53.
29⌜Roundtable Discussion and Dialogue: A Bird's-Eye view of the world's political, economic, and security landscapes ⌟ Keidandanjo, No. 1, 2020, pp. 8.
30⌜Deciphering the Biden Administration's Era of Economic Security: The Latest Situation of U.S.-China Confrontations by Associate Professor Osakyo Todai:⌟Toyo Keizai, June 14, 2021, https://toyokeizai.net/articles/-/433637[2021-10-28].
31 Ministry of Economy and Innovation⌜New desk axis of economic policy ⌟, June 4, 2021, https://www.meti.go.jp/shingikai/sankoshin/sokai/pdf/028_02_00.pdf [2021-10-28].
32 Cabinet Office⌜6th Basic Plan for Science and Technology Innovation (Overview)⌟, March 26, 2021, https://www8.cao.go.jp/cstp/kihonkeikaku/index6.html [2021-10-27].
33 Ministry of Defense, 2016 Edition of The White Paper for Defense, Nikkei Printing Co., Ltd., 2016, p. 358.
34 Ministry of Economy and Economy Trade Management Department⌜Desk Micronastic Management Guidance on Security Trade (for University and Research Desks) 3rd Edition ⌟, October 2017, https://www.meti.go.jp/policy/anpo/law_document/tutatu/t07sonota/t07sonota_jishukanri03.pdf [2021-10-10].
35 Cabinet Office⌜Integrated Innovation Strategy 2020⌟, July 17, 2020, https://www8.cao.go.jp/cstp/togo2020_honbun.pdf [2021-11-12].
36. Https://jimin.jp-east-2.storage.api.nifcloud.com/pdf/news/policy/201021_1.pdf [2021-10-27] on December 16, 2020, toward the formulation of the "Economic security strategy" by the Liberal Democratic Party Political Research Committee and the New International Order Creation Strategy Headquarters.
37Tetsuichi Takagi⌜Japan's Strategy for Rare Metals⌟, Research Institute Geological Survey Center, https://www.gsj.jp/data/chishitsunews/2010_06_03.pdf[2021-11-12].
38 Hiromi Oki And The Risk of Dependence on China⌟, International Trade and Investment Institute No. 120, 2020, http://www.iti.or.jp/kikan120/120oki.pdf [2021-10-28].
39 Cabinet Secretariat⌜National Security Strategy (Overview)⌟, https://www.cas.go.jp/jp/siryou/131217anzenhoshou/gaiyou.html[2021-11-08].
40⌜ Akira Amari talks about Japan's economic security ⌟, "World Economic Review", May-June 2021, pp. 9.
41., May 2020, https://www.meti.go.jp/shingikai/sankoshin/tsusho_boeki/pdf/007_02_00.pdf [2021-11-18] on the future foreign economic policy based on the corona desk.
42⌜Chair-meeting and Dialogue: A Bird's-Eye view of the global political, economic, and security environment ⌟ Keidandan-no.1, No. 1, 2020, pp.12.
43The Ministry of Foreign Affairs⌜The Https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/files/000490260.pdf of Japan's Economic Agreement (EPA/FTA) and other agreements and other agreements https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/files/000490260.pdf[2021-10-10].
44 Akihiko Tanaka, The World After the Crisis, translated by Shen Yi and Xi Ling, Beijing: Social Sciences Academic Press, 2018, p. 166.
45⌜Reading the Age of Economic Security by Masanori Biden: The Latest Situation of U.S.-China Confrontations by Associate Professor Ryo Tosabashi:, Toyo Keizai, June 14, 2021, https://toyokeizai.net/articles/-/433637 [2021-10-25].
46 Yuzo Murayama⌜ Making use of Japan's "Strategic Essentials" ⌟, Voice, No. 2, 2021, pp. 51.
47 Toshifumi Kokubun: The Rapid Rise of Security and Economic Policy, Financial Facsimile Newspaper, May 13, 2019, https://www.fn-group.jp/933/ [2021-11-12].
48. Yoichi Funabashi: The Era of Geo-Economics: The U.S.-China "New Cold War" and Japan's Strategy—, June 19, 2020, https://www5.cao.go.jp/keizai1/kokusai_seikei/20200619/shiryou2.pdf [2021-11-18].
49 Keizai Doyukai-2021-10-27, April 21, 2021, https://www.doyukai.or.jp/policyproposals/uploads/docs/210421a.pdf:Toward establishing resilient economic security—What is the course Japan should take in the age of geo-economics?
50 Yoshio Nishimura, The Rise and Fall of Japan's Electronics Industry, translated by Hou Xiujuan, Beijing: People's Post and Telecommunications Publishing House, 2016, p. 82.
51 Gary Baker and Kitty Baker: The Economics of Life, translated by Xue Di'an, Beijing: Huaxia Publishing House, 2000, p. 281.
*Disclaimer: This article only represents the personal views of the author and does not represent the position of this official account
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In order to better serve the construction of digital China, serve the construction of the "Belt and Road", and strengthen theoretical exchanges and practical exchanges in the process of digital economy construction. Experts and scholars from China's digital economy and the "Belt and Road" construction have established a digital economy think tank to contribute to the construction of digital China. Wei Jianguo, former vice minister of the Ministry of Commerce, served as honorary president, and well-known young scholars Huang Rihan and Chu Yin led the way. The Political Science and International Relations Forum is a dedicated platform under the umbrella of the Digital Economy Think Tank.