An Analysis on Japan’s East Asian Regional Cooperation Strategy: from the Perspective of Regional Public Goods

　　Institute of International Studies,Fudan University

　　Abstract: The production and consumption of regional public goods is a new perspective to analyze East Asian regional cooperation. Since the end of World War II, the provision of various types of regional public goods has been a core approach for Japan to promote East Asian economic integration and to realize its diplomatic strategy. In order to achieve an optimal effect, Japan has gradually shifted its efforts from a unilateral supply model to one that focuses more on institution building. During this process, Japan has managed to coordinate its relations with other big powers within and outside of this region, based respectively on the principles of “open regionalism” and “competitive cooperation”. In addition, by means of “summarization” and “the best shot”, Japan also endeavored to reconcile the asymmetry between its strategic intention and supply capability at providing regional public goods. Japan’s historical experiences provide systemic inputs to China’s formulation of its East Asian Regional Cooperation strategy, tactics, and setting of interim objectives.