On April 28, the Japanese government officially announced that Prime Minister Asahi Hayato will visit Vietnam and Australia from May 1 to May 5. Beyond consolidating economic and military ties with both countries, the most important agenda item of this visit is to unveil an "evolved" Indo-Pacific strategy on the 10th anniversary of the original Indo-Pacific concept. One point many may not be familiar with is that the term "Indo-Pacific"—a core concept in Western strategic circles—was actually first proposed by Japan. Why did Japan take on this role? What exactly does Asahi’s proposed "evolved" Indo-Pacific strategy entail?

First, tracing back to the policy level, the emergence of the Indo-Pacific concept can be linked to a speech delivered by Shinzo Abe in 2016 at the 6th Tokyo International Conference on African Development in Kenya, where he formally introduced the so-called Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy. However, if we go further back, in 2007 when Abe visited India, he gave a speech before the Indian Parliament, highlighting India's position at the crossroads of two oceans and advocating for the creation of a broader Asia. In 2006, then Foreign Minister Taro Aso had already proposed the "Arc of Freedom and Prosperity," aiming to establish a stable region based on Western democratic institutions and market economies along the outer rim of Eurasia. These earlier visions laid the foundational groundwork for Japan’s later Indo-Pacific strategy.

Second, from a conceptual standpoint, the Japanese understanding of the Indo-Pacific draws from two key intellectual sources. The first originates from the early 20th century, when German geopolitician Karl Haushofer first introduced the geographic concept of "Indo-Pacific"—intending to merge the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean into a single strategic space, serving as a counterforce against British and American colonialism. This idea quickly entered Japan’s academic and strategic circles and influenced later Japanese pan-Asianism and Greater East Asia ideologies. The second source is a 17th-century Persian-language treatise titled *The Confluence of Two Oceans*, written by a Mughal prince. Originally referring to the synthesis of Islamic and Indian philosophies, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe placed particular emphasis on its focus on the convergence of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, reinterpreting it with new geopolitical significance.

In fact, Japan’s initial proposal of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific was no coincidence—it was fundamentally determined by Japan’s unique geostrategic location. As an island nation, Japan is heavily dependent on maritime routes stretching from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean, which serve as its lifeline for energy imports. This dependence and vulnerability became especially evident during the recent U.S.-Iran crisis. Therefore, when changes began to unfold across the regional geopolitical landscape, Japan perceived them earlier and reacted more swiftly than other nations, emphasizing the need for a new framework to mobilize allies and partners. This marked the beginning of Japan’s strategic transformation, a trajectory that continues to this day.

If Abe’s first and second terms successively shaped and implemented the Indo-Pacific framework, then Asahi Hayato’s upcoming "evolved" Indo-Pacific strategy likely represents a significant update to the Indo-Pacific concept in light of the latest geopolitical developments. Currently, Asahi appears to emphasize three new pillars:

The first pillar is supply chain resilience—currently Japan’s top priority, aimed at reducing external dependence in critical mineral sectors such as rare earths;

The second pillar is economic growth, promoting regional free trade and infrastructure development, with the CPTPP expected to serve as the primary vehicle;

The third pillar is military-security cooperation. Japan’s decision in March to lift restrictions on the export of lethal weapons likely reflects this focus, particularly in its upcoming collaboration with Vietnam and Australia.

Overall, whether viewed through historical context or current realities, the Indo-Pacific concept is deeply rooted in Japan’s policy and intellectual circles. Asahi’s proposed "evolved" Indo-Pacific strategy inherits the foundations laid by Abe’s vision but has clearly been adjusted according to new circumstances, with its core focus centered on enhancing Japan’s economic resilience and aligning with Japan’s ongoing process of military reorientation. At the same time, Japan undoubtedly hopes to seize leadership in shaping the next phase of Indo-Pacific mechanisms, especially at this pivotal 10-year milestone.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1863684174791752/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.