Tokyo Rising explores Japan's historic strategic shift and the implications for the balance of power in Asia and Australia's future security. "The idea that provides much of the rationale for an Australia-Japan alliance - that the two countries will support America in a coalition to contain China - is not credible. Neither country has done nearly enough to build the capacity or demonstrate the resolve." Hugh White The twenty-eighth issue of Australian Foreign Affairs explores Japan's historic shift away from its postwar pacifism as it braces for a changing Asia in which China, its neighbour, is challenging the dominance of the United States, its ally. Tokyo Rising looks at the options for Japan as it adopts a new military and strategic posture - and at the consequences for Australia, which faces a remarkably similar dilemma. Hugh White argues that Japan and Australia will ultimately be unable to rely on each other - or on their partners - to counter China. Justin Bassi and Alex Bristow explore what a formal Australia-Japan alliance might look like, and why it matters. Anna Fifield looks at the life, politics and goals of Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi. Ken Jimbo analyses Japan's shifting approaches as it seeks a policy for handling China. PLUS Marc Ablong on cybersecurity, Anna Naupa on Pacific Islands diplomacy and Susan Harris Rimmer on climate, and correspondence on AFA27's "Plan B" from Michael Clarke, Jennifer Parker, Richard Gray and David Kilcullen.

Details

ISBN13: 9781760646219
Format: Paperback / softback
Number of Pages: 112
Edition:
Publication Date: 19 Oct 2026
Publisher: Black Inc.
Publication City, Country: Australia
Dimensions (cm): 23.3(H)x16.7(L)x1(W)180
Weight (gm): 180

Author Biography

Jonathan Pearlman is the editor of Australian Foreign Affairs and the world editor of The Saturday Paper. He previously worked at The Sydney Morning Herald, covering foreign affairs and politics from Canberra and Sydney. He has worked as a correspondent in the Middle East, and has covered various international stories, including the 2008 US election and the violence in eastern Congo. He is a correspondent for The Straits Times newspaper (Singapore) and was Australia-Pacific correspondent for The Telegraph (UK). His work has appeared in numerous publications, including The Diplomat, Good Weekend magazine and Australian Book Review, and he has been a Walkley Award finalist and a United Nations Media Award winner. He was born in Sydney and studied at the University of New South Wales and Oxford University.

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