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Japan has adopted a "multi-layered" approach to its strategic partnerships, which are organised in a rather flexible and non-institutionalised manner around its core alliance with Washington. The legitimacy of these cooperation schemes rests on the sharing and the upholding of a liberal order and liberal values, but also on an effort to counterbalance China and to keep the United States engaged in Asia. The effectiveness of these cooperation schemes should be measured according to their main objective: to further Japan’s military normalisation and to advance its interests in the Asian-Pacific region. At present, Japan enjoys a wide network of partners, and its defence cooperation schemes appear to a great extent as both legitimate and effective.