Kotani, Tetsuo

Abstract
The Indian Ocean emerged as a distant source of threat for Japan but became the lifeline of the Japanese economy after World War II. Japan attempted to reduce threats from the Indian Ocean by alliances, international law, and colonisation. History shows Japan can reduce threats in the Indian Ocean by allying with the dominant power there. As long as Japan is allied with the United States, a dominant power in the Indian Ocean, Japan does not maintain a strong presence in the Indian Ocean Region. Japan can indirectly but sufficiently influence the military balance in the Indian Ocean by restricting the naval reach of Asian land powers from the western Pacific to the Indian Ocean. On the other hand, given the relative decline of US power, Japan will continue to deploy small forces in the western choke points of the Indian Ocean, while increasing engagements with navies in the eastern choke points.
Read the article here (subscription required).