On Dec. 16, the administration of Fumio Kishida adopted Japan¡¯s second national security strategy.
Since 2013 the NSS has been published to provide a comprehensive guiding framework for Japan¡¯s security policy. The new document that was published under the initially thought dovish administration of Kishida has envisaged far-reaching changes to address the ¡°most severe and complex security environment since the end of WWII,¡± according to Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi. Attracting great public attention were the plans to double defense spending to 2% of gross domestic product by 2027 and to develop counterstrike capabilities .
One field in the NSS that has attracted less attention is the role of Japan¡¯s development cooperation, also commonly known as official development assistance. Having been a central element in the country¡¯s postwar foreign policy, the changes deserve strong attention. In addition, looking at Japan¡¯s development cooperation helps to understand the nation¡¯s foreign policy intentions in a broader context.
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