
The article argues, that between 20, Japan is not only continuing to build a closer security alliance with the United States, but that since the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and especially under PM Koizumi, this development has accelerated to an extent that the question about the abolishment of article 9 seems less significant. Following that, it takes a closer look into four policy areas, namely security policy, development policy, international environmental policy, and international trade policy. China, Republic of Korea, DPRK, Australia, and Latin America, as well as its multilateral relations with ASEAN and the EU. It takes a closer look at the development of its bilateral relations with the United States, P.R.

This article gives an overview of recent developments in Japanese foreign policy.
