Japan's succes in becoming the world's second largest economy is based in large part on its heavy foreign trade. While the United States has been a key trading partner for Japan in previous years, East Asia's recent development has increased this region's importance in Japan's foreign trade framework. According to a 2005 annual report by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), East Asia has been a driving force behind increased imports and exports to Japan. In particular, trade values with China, as well as Asian NIEs, and ASEAN 4 have all reached new highs.

What does this mean? More trade is going to and from Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore, which means that more ships with Japanese interests are voyaging through the South China Sea. As an island nation, ships carry 99% of Japan's exports by volume. 17% of the world's ships by deadweight are Japanese, and about 20% of the ships passing through the Malacca Strait are Japanese-owned.

Japan's dependence on energy imports is also a key factor in this topic. As of 2004, Japan imported 99% of its oil, and 97% of its natural gas, with 80% of its energy supply coming from foreign sources. 88% of Japan's oil imports were from OPEC, meaning that a majority of Japan's oil travels through the South China Sea to reach Japan. Japan's heavy dependence and vested interest in these bodies of water is clear.

Japan's dependence on the South China Sea, both for trade and energy imports, underscores Japan's desire to protect Japanese interests in the region, particularly from piracy and the blocking of crucial sea lanes. This website intends to take a closer look at piracy, the impact of the South China Sea on Japanese interests, and ultimately what solutions are being discussed to maintain security for Japanese interests in the South China Sea.

I am a senior at Middlebury College majoring in International Studies, East Asian Studies track with a focus on Political Science. This website is a research project for the class "Governing the South China Sea" with Professor David Rosenberg.

Contact: Ken Nakamura - knakamur@middlebury.edu
Updated: January 30, 2006

Dire Straits: Competing Security Priorities in the South China Sea
By David Rosenberg

"Japanese Trade in 2004", Japan External Trade Organization

"Strategy and Approach of Japan's Energy Diplomacy", The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

"Japan's Resource Situation" (my translation), Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation