Aust must press Japan for regional role

Australia and the US must press Japan to continue playing as prominent a role as possible in regional security, a new study says.

Prime minister Shinzo Abe is championing a forward-leaning security posture and aggressive diplomacy to ensure Japan remains a "first-tier" nation but most Japanese don't share the government's ambitions, said Brad Glosserman, executive director of the Honolulu-based Pacific Forum.

His paper, released on Thursday by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, says the Abe administration could well be "peak Japan".

Abe has sought to restore the shine to Japan, re-interpreting the country's pacifist constitution to adopt a more outward looking security posture and boosting defence spending.

His government has opened the way for defence exports, with Japan one of three contenders for Australia's new submarines.

But Japan has some fundamental problems - a diminishing and ageing population with a dwindling appetite for Japan to play a high profile security role in Asia.

"It's doubtful whether most Japanese share their government's ambitions and whether they are prepared to make the adjustments and sacrifices necessary to achieve and maintain that status. The Abe administration could well be Peak Japan," he said.

Mr Glosserman said partners such as Australia and the US must push Japan to do more, while remaining conscious of the country's domestic circumstances.

"Canberra can play a significant role in this effort. Australia should continue to press Japan to work with it across a spectrum of security and foreign policy issues," he said.

Australia, Japan and the US should be planning for various regional contingencies.

"The Japanese and Australian militaries should be expanding their co-operation, including joint exercises," he said.