Finding the balance. The role of Australia-Japan cooperation in the shaping of the Asia-Pacific security architecture

Abstract

This paper argues that Australia and Japan, taking a cooperative approach, are able to successfully re-shape the regional security architecture in the Asia-Pacific. Due to their ambiguous characteristics of being ‘in-between’ the East and the West, they are equipped with a unique set of tools allowing them to enhance the regional security cooperation framework. However, the question that remains is that of the shape of the potential cooperation and to what extent it would reflect the different – and sometimes contradicting – interests of regional players. The role of institutionalisation in the successful functioning of the security structure is discussed as well.