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Japan’s Foreign Policy between the Pacific Ocean and the Continent

Japan’s Foreign Policy between the Pacific Ocean and the Continent. Thursday, March 27, 2008 Kazuhiko Togo. Contents. Origin : defeat at World War II  impact  new values & new policies First contradiction : from selfish passive pacifism to a more responsible security policy  US

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Japan’s Foreign Policy between the Pacific Ocean and the Continent

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  1. Japan’s Foreign Policy between the Pacific Ocean and the Continent Thursday, March 27, 2008 Kazuhiko Togo

  2. Contents • Origin: defeat at World War II  impact  new values & new policies • First contradiction: from selfish passive pacifism to a more responsible security policy  US • Second contradiction: from total negation to regain honor and national identity  China and South Korea • Future: US and Asia, where to go?

  3. Theoretical framework • Eclectic approach: realism (power), liberalism (‘values), constructivism (identity) = all valid • Practitioners’ view: role of leading individuals, their perception and decision making important  freedom of choice and responsibility •  Inclined to Constructivist view, counterfactual history = valid exercise

  4. Starting point: end of WWII • Defeat  spiritual vacuum  new values = democracy, peace, economy • Allies judgment IMTFE accepted • Yoshida doctrine: economic development, minimum forces, US security treaty 51 San Francisco PT • Contradictions: (1) selfish passive pacifism = no armament, neutrality • (2) total negation = no flag, no anthem

  5. Toward Realist Power: 1990’s • Government realist; first contradiction continued during the Cold War • Turning point: “Defeat of Japan” at the first Gulf War (91) • NK Nuclear crisis was a wake up call for defense-security specialists (94) • Taiwan Strait missile crisis shook politicians, especially Hashimoto (96) • Reconfirmation of Alliance, Defense Guideline, back up law (96-99)

  6. Koizumi: Defense, security and US strengthened • 9/11: stands with US and act,MSDF at the Indian Ocean for fuelling (01) • NK visit  abduction and missile  genuine sense of threat (02) • War in Iraq: boots on the ground (03) • Partner in the US realignment (05) • Responsible, realist, pro-active; G.W. Bush: “unique relationship”

  7. Abe-Fukuda continue • Abe (06-07.9): revise constitution & normal country  Article 9 denies the right of collective self-defense =burden of asymmetry; “babysat by coalition forces” = irresponsible participation • (07.9) Ozawa and Democratic Party wins Upper House election • Fukuda (07.9~): managed to maintain MSDF in the Indian Ocean to contribute in the war against terrorism

  8. Asia 60’s ~80’s: identity slowly sought, reconciliation pursued diligently • 65 normalizing relations with S. Korea • 52 Taiwan; 72 China: no reparation • 78 China Reform & Opening; Peace & Friendship Treaty; 79 “engaging” ODA • 82 Text book controversies • 85 Nakasone official visit to Yasukuni • 89 Tiananmen Incident  no isolation

  9. 1990’s: efforts to reenter Asia continued persistently • 92 Emperor’s visit to China • 93~ Atonement of Comfort Women • 95 turning point: Japan: Murayama Statement; China: Nanjing exposition; Korea: demolition of governor-general’s office • Hashimoto & Obuchi: $80b to Asian financial crisis  APT 97; Kim’s and Jiang’s visits 98; Triple breakfast 99

  10. Murayama statement 95 • During a certain period in the not too distant past, Japan, following a mistaken national policy, advanced along the road to war, only to ensnare the Japanese people in a fateful crisis, through its colonial rule and aggression, caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many countries, particularly to those of Asian nations. In the hope that no such mistake be made in the future, I regard, in a spirit of humility, these irrefutable facts of history, and express here once again my feelings of deep remorse and state my heartfelt apology.

  11. Koizumi: China, SK strained • China’s economic, political &military rise  challenge and threat • 05 Bandung statement = Murayama • Yasukuni visits 01-06, “matter of his heart, no diplomatic card” • No sate visits from 02, no multilateral talk, demonstration 05; Japan leading EAS whereas China sticks to APT • SK: Joint world soccer 02; Roh Moo-Hyum’s dialogue policy 03; “Winter Sonata” & Yongsama phenomena 04 • Explosion on Shimane Takeshimaday 05; Roh’s “diplomatic war”

  12. Abe-Fukuda:Asian policy re-established • Abe: Yasukuni: NCND policy; two wheels development of political and economic relations 06.10 • Wen’s visit 07.4: Diet speech “appreciates Japanese apology” • Fukuda = known Asianist; visit to China 07.12: no Yasukuni visit; “learn from history” speech • Lee Myung –bak 07.12: eager to “future oriented” relations with Japan; summit visits resumed

  13. Future: Japan-US? • Where would US go? Is US values sustainable? Is US power becoming limited?  assertive partner? • Where would US-China go? Why is China so Japan friendly now? Japan passing? autonomous partner? • When and how historical memory would be taken up in Japan-US context?  truly reconciled partner?

  14. Future: Japan-Asia? • Political leadership: can they stay away from the minefields? (1)Yasukuni, (2) textbook, (3) comfort women, (4) Takeshima /Senkaku • People: engaged in positive exchanges; or drifted to emotion and antagonism? • Geopolitics: China’s military power; energy exploitation; NK threat and unification; Taiwan; regionalism

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