Abstract: In recent years, under the guidance of the “Indo-Pacific Concept”, Japan’s actions in the South China Sea have been gradually upgraded. Japan’s strategic move to participate in the South China Sea dispute has actually become a concrete manifestation of Japan’s containment of China and the pursuit of the “Indo-Pacific Ocean Order” dominance. Japan’s South China Sea policy is becoming a key part of Japan’s “Indo-Pacific concept”, an important starting point for Japan to promote the diplomacy of major powers and strengthen maritime security cooperation with the United States, India, and Southeast Asian countries. Japan’s strong involvement in the South China Sea dispute not only interferes with the establishment of trust between China and ASEAN countries, but also increases the difficulty of China’s peaceful settlement of the South China Sea dispute, adding new obstacles to peace and stability in the South China Sea. In the postepidemic era, Japan will further intervene in the South China Sea dispute. As the process of consultation on the South China Sea Code of Conduct between China and ASEAN countries accelerates, Japan’s involvement in the South China Sea dispute will also speed up. Moreover, Japan’s involvement in the South China Sea dispute is showing a bad sign that Japan has listed the South China Sea dispute and the East China Sea issue as a contradiction that needs to be resolved between China and Japan. Japan’s positioning of the South China Sea dispute will exacerbate China-Japan strategic mutual suspicion. The establishment of Sino-Japanese relations in the new era creates new obstacles.

Key words: Indo-Pacific concept, South China Sea dispute, Japan-US alliance, South China Sea Policy