"What is also striking is that regional trust in Japan has continued to increase steadily despite—or perhaps because of—the country’s plans to increase its own defense spending. Growing geopolitical risks are bringing Japan and Indo-Pacific states closer together" (p. 56). buff.ly/dyw0FUw
Building Geoeconomic Toolkits: Asia-Pacific Middle Powers in an Era of Strategic Competition | The National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR)Asia-Pacific middle powers have emerged as important players in shaping the geoeconomic order. Their exposure to Chinese economic leverage, dependence on U.S.-led security arrangements, and role in…buff.ly