AsaninfluentialpowerintheAsia-Pacificregion,Japan’sdomesticandforeignpolicieshavebroadandprofoundimplicationsfortheregion.Ontheonehand,Japansometimesbehavesasadisrupterofstabilityintheregionbyinstigatingdisputesandconflicts,andencouragingWashington’sinterferenceinthenameofrestoringregionalbalance.Ontheotherhand,Japan’sstableeconomicgrowth,whichislikelytobringitoutoftheshadowofthe“losttwodecades,”togetherwithincreasedimportandoutboundinvestment,isbeneficialtothestabilityanddevelopmentoftheAsia-Pacific.Hence,fortheAsia-Pacificregion,Japan’sdomesticandforeignpolicieshavebothnegativeandpositiveimplications.
