‘Surrounding Areas’ and The Recalibration of Japan’s Threat Perception

The official narratives of Surrounding Areas in the 1997 New Guidelines are a curiosity: on the one hand, they signify Japan’s readiness to increase its international involvement, while on the other hand, the geographical designation remains vague despite Japan’s preoccupation with Asia. This suggests that Asia as Japan’s neighbourhood is considered along with international developments to facilitate the emergence of an ambiguous language for Japanese policy makers as they seek to adapt to changes in the international environment. As such, the term ‘Surrounding Areas’ signifies Tokyo’s anxieties in facing up to new challenges, as well as the willingness of the government to enhance Japan’s international role while maintaining its status as a pacifist state.