Third Tier: Japan’s Minilateralism Policy in East Asia–Pacific

The security architecture of East AsiaEast Asia and the broader Asia–PacificAsia-Pacific has witnessed a notable increase in minilateral security initiatives since the 2010s. This trend has been largely driven by the rise of China and perceived gaps in regional securityRegional security mechanisms capable of effectively managing this ascent. These emergent minilateral structures are specifically crafted to dissuade potential rivals, particularly China, from pursuing assertive policies. MinilateralismMinilateralism is characterized as “small, issue-based, informal, and non-institutionalized partnerships aimed at coordinating international policy actions”. Moisés Naím characterizes minilateralismMinilateralism as “a more targeted approach, involving the smallest number of countries necessary to exert the greatest possible influence in addressing specific issues.” Conversely, William Tow describes minilateralismMinilateralism as typically involving three, sometimes four or five states convening informally to discuss areas of mutual security threatsSecurity threats or to coordinate on specific tasks aimed at enhancing regional stabilityStability and order.