The Potential Regional Effects of Japan’s Djibouti base

The recent opening of a Japanese military base in Djibouti signified a colossal shift in Japanese defence and strategic policy. Japan’s post-World War Two pacifist constitution limited its military capabilities, but increased energy security priorities and the rise of China have led it to look to the military in pursuing its national interests.

The new base will also play a major role in increasing Japan’s strategic influence in the region. As Japan does not have the regional influence of India and China, the deal to establish a base in Djibouti is a major coup for its competitiveness in the Indian Ocean. While the base ensures that Japan can address its energy security and piracy interests quickly and more effectively, it also firmly places them in a region coming under increasing influence from other global powers.

The establishment of the base allows Japan to rival China for regional clout, a significant point given the traditional competition between both nations. China’s involvement in the East African and western Indian Ocean region has increased considerably throughout the last decade. Firstly, it has invested US$2.5 billion in Ethiopia, which partly surrounds Djibouti. Two-way trade between China an Ethiopia totalled US$800 million in the first half of 2010.

China also has major financial and strategic interests with Sudan and South Sudan, with China having invested over US$20 billion in both of those countries, part of which has funded initiatives such as dams and refineries. While the vast majority of oil deposits are located in the newly formed South Sudan, the 1600 kilometre long oil pipeline that carries the oil to the Red Sea passes through Sudan. For Japan, who itself has energy security issues following the March 2011 earthquake, the base in Djibouti gives it a major boost in its regional rivalry with China.

The opening of the Djibouti base may also raise questions from its regional competitors as to whether Japan may further increase its military commitment to the region. The Djibouti base has been a culmination of reforms to the Japanese Self Defence Forces. In 2001, the Japanese Government passed the Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Law, which allowed for its force to support US forces in its wars on Afghanistan and Iraq. In 2008, the government passed the Replenishment Support Special Measures Law which essentially supported Japan’s contributions and combating piracy. Following these initiatives, it would be fair for one to believe that Japan may seek to further expand its military presence in the region.

While this may cause some alarm to nations such as China, the base in Djibouti is likely to be nothing more than a Japanese effort to keep up competition with the rising powers of the Global South and their constantly increasing energy consumption and influence in the Indian Ocean region and the world at large. With Japan continuing to struggle economically, the establishing the base in Djibouti is a smart way to assert its global presence. Despite this, Japan will have to do a lot more to not lose more ground to the Global South.

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