As the US adopts a more restrained approach to its Indo-Pacific strategy, Japan is stepping up its networking role, said Chen Jimin, director of the Institute for American and Latin American Studies at the Central Party School's Academy of International Strategy. In May, Sanae Takaichi during a visit to Vietnam unveiled an updated version of the 'Free and Open Indo-Pacific' strategy, focusing on AI, economic infrastructure, public-private partnerships and security cooperation. Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi at the Shangri-La Dialogue promoted the new vision, emphasising strengthened defence capabilities and regional security cooperation.

Japan has also been deepening defence ties with the Philippines, South Korea, India and Australia, signing a military logistics agreement with the Philippines in January. Chen argued that Japan is turning the US Indo-Pacific strategy's alliance network from a vision into reality, and warned of its phased tactical adjustments.

Japan's new vision, filling a leadership vacuum amid the US deceleration of its Indo-Pacific strategy, focuses on AI infrastructure, public-private partnerships and security. For New Zealand SMEs, this could reshape regional technology standards and supply chain dynamics. As a CPTPP member, Japan's proposed data rules may affect NZ tech firms' access to Asian markets, while Japan-Australia critical minerals cooperation could alter resource trade patterns, prompting manufacturers reliant on Asia-Pacific supply chains to assess alternatives.

The warming of regional security cooperation, though not a direct impact, could potentially raise shipping and insurance costs through friction. NZ businesses should monitor whether Japan-led Indo-Pacific infrastructure projects become exclusionary, and adjust digital service and clean technology export strategies early.

Keywords: Japan, Indo-Pacific Strategy, networking, United States, allies, Sanae Takaichi, Shinjiro Koizumi, Free and Open Indo-Pacific, security cooperation

中央党校国际战略研究院美国与拉美研究所所长陈积敏发文指出，在美国推进“印太战略”相对克制的背景下，日本试图发挥更大串联作用。今年5月，高市早苗在访越期间提出更新版“自由开放的印太”战略，聚焦AI经济基础设施、公私合作和安全合作。防卫大臣小泉进次郎在香会上鼓吹新版构想，强调强化防卫能力与地区安全合作。

日本还加强与菲律宾、韩国、印度、澳大利亚的防务合作，如1月与菲签订军事后勤协议。作者认为，日本正将美国“印太战略”的同盟网络由愿景转变为现实，需警惕其阶段性策略调整。

日本在美国印太战略步伐放缓之际正填补领导真空，其新版构想聚焦AI基建、公私合作与安全。这对新西兰中小企业意味着区域技术标准与供应链格局可能重塑——作为CPTPP成员，日本倡导的数据规则或影响NZ科技企业进入亚洲市场的路径，而日澳关键矿产合作可能改变资源贸易版图，依赖亚太供应链的制造商需评估备选方案。区域安全合作升温虽非直接冲击，但潜在摩擦或波及航运与保险成本，留意日本主导的印太基础设施项目是否形成排他性安排，及早调整数字服务与清洁技术出口策略。

关键词: 日本, 印太战略, 串联, 美国, 盟友, 高市早苗, 小泉进次郎, 自由开放印太, 安全合作

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Source: Global Times