Japan's Shift from "Hands off" policy to "Proactive Defence" policy: Japan's approach to Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands Dispute

Abstract

Japan has been conducting so-called quiet diplomacy for a long time, especially in terms of dealing with territorial conflicts. However, in the 2010 collision incident between Chinese fishing crawler and Japanese Coast Guards patrol boat, Japan chose to respond in more assertive manner, by detaining the Chinese captain, hence shifting its policy from hands off to proactive defence. Why has Japan shifted its policy? Examining the relationship from the Japanese point of view, this paper presents how Japans hands off policy approach to the territorial and maritime dispute has enabled China to effectively prevent Japan from exercising sovereignty over the disputed islands while pushing its own claim further.