Abstract
Responding to the Rise of China in the Global Commons: Japan’s Evolving Approach to Outer Space, Cyberspace, and the High Seas
Kristi Govella, University of Hawai’i at MānoaSince the end of the Cold War, three domains of the global commons—outer space, cyberspace, and the high seas—have become increasingly competitive due to the rise of China, the relative decline of the United States, and expanding participation by middle and small powers. While continuing to uphold the rules-based order, Japan has adjusted to the changing strategic environment by turning its existing tools in these domains to new purposes: militarizing dual-use technologies, using multilateral institutions to balance China’s influence, and broadening the scope of the U.S.-Japan alliance. The evolving Japanese approach provides an instructive example of how countries are attempting to manage the security challenges posed by the crowding of these arenas. It also demonstrates that the pluralization of the global commons presents potential avenues for innovative types of cooperation, creating opportunities for the United States to work with its newly empowered allies and partners to build more effective governance regimes.
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