Economy Security Division to be Established by Japan's Foreign Ministry
The Japanese Foreign Ministry is set to undergo a significant reorganization on Friday, with the establishment of a new Economic Security Division and a Economic Diplomacy Strategy Division, as part of its efforts to improve its organizational structure and address economic and geopolitical concerns.
The Economic Security Division, to be placed under the Economic Affairs Bureau, will focus on strengthening supply chains for key minerals, a critical aspect for Japan's economy, particularly in light of heightening U.S.-China tensions. This division is expected to improve Japan's response to issues related to economic security.
In addition, the Economic Diplomacy Strategy Division will be created to handle emerging issues such as digital technologies and artificial intelligence, and to lead economic negotiations with foreign countries.
The Foreign Ministry's reorganization also includes the restructuring of divisions at the European Affairs Bureau. The Western Europe Division and the Central and South Eastern Europe Division will be reorganized into the first Europe division and the second Europe division, respectively. The second Europe division's focus on Ukraine, Poland, the Baltic states, and other nations suggests a priority on regional security concerns, particularly in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The creation of the second Europe division is likely to enhance Japan's response to geopolitical issues in Western Europe. The new division will have an office handling policies associated with the countries mentioned, aiming to intensify Japan's efforts in dealing with these issues.
The reorganization is part of the ongoing organizational reform in the Japanese Foreign Ministry, which is a response to the complex geopolitical environment. The reform is expected to better coordinate economic diplomacy by elevating economic security affairs from the current economic security policy office within the National Security Policy Division to a dedicated division, reflecting the growing recognition that economic security is increasingly vital to both diplomacy and national security.
In summary, the focus of the reform is to strengthen Japan’s capability in economic security and diplomacy, particularly by securing critical supply chains, addressing technological challenges, and enhancing cooperation with international partners amid a complex geopolitical environment.
- The new Economic Security Division, within the reorganized Foreign Ministry, aims to strengthen Japan's economic security by focusing on key mineral supply chains, especially considering rising U.S.-China tensions.
- The establishment of the Economic Diplomacy Strategy Division will enable Japan to lead economic negotiations and tackle emerging issues such as digital technologies and artificial intelligence, essential for maintaining a competitive edge in the global industry.
- With the creation of the second Europe division, Japan will strengthen its response to geopolitical issues, particularly those concerning Ukraine, Poland, the Baltic states, and other nations, in the face of a complex and evolving general-news landscape.
