Description
On 13 June 2023 Japan published its first-ever Space Security Initiative, marking a major milestone in Tokyo’s endeavour to be a credible space security actor. The Space Security Initiative sets the objective of space security as “to promote the peace and prosperity of Japan and the safety and security of our citizens through outer space, together with our ally, like-minded countries, and others to maintain the stable use of and free access to outer space.” This paper focuses on the evolution of Japan’s space cooperation with like-minded states. The cooperation will be examined from the perspective of space capabilities, which are Earth observation, positioning, navigation and timing (PNT), communications, environmental monitoring, and space governance. The paper aims to shed light on the continuity and change in Japan’s space cooperation bilaterally, minilaterally, and multilaterally.
