Aspects of Japanese foreign policy from 1990 to 1995

Abstract

This Thesis examines the evolution and progression of Japan's foreign policy between the years 1990 and 1995. It adopts an essentially historical-discursive methodology, based on verifiable material from empirical sources. Japan's policy can best be characterized as a multi-layered, syncretist approach principally intended to enhance Japan's own security and place in the world but also to facilitate a stable and prosperous regional and international system.The theoretical paradigm adopted for this analysis draws on two competing schools of International Relations - Neo-Realism and Neo-Liberal Institutionalism - finding that Japan's foreign policy between 1990 and 1995 displayed characteristics that match both schools.Such a theoretical inter-relationship reflects the uniqueness of Japan in terms of its historical experience. Japan is a State geographically situated in Northeast Asia, yet, following its defeat in World War Two, is a Western-oriented society embodying many liberal American values and practices. It has adopted as a basic premise the renunciation of all forms of military aggression and pursues its national objectives through participation in international bodies (including the United Nations, the Group of Seven/Eight, APEC and ARF), the allocation of generous amounts of Overseas Development Assistance and involvement in United Nations Peace Keeping Operations. At the same time, Japan has been acutely concerned to maintain its Alliance with the United States of America, thus ensuring its own protection from large-scale external attack from whatever source.Japan's foreign policy exhibits all of these practices and, as such, reflects both a Neo- Realist perspective (as evidenced by its maintenance of a well-financed, highly trained defence force of its own as well as its decades old Alliance with the United States) as well as a Neo-Liberal Institutionalist perspective (as demonstrated by its activities in various international organizations and its commitment to the attainment of Human Security).For Japan, Human Security is a measure by which Japan presents itself as a good international citizen and is manifested through Japan's disbursement of ODA, commitment to environmental protection, promulgation of human rights and participation in UN Peace Keeping Operations.The five-year period - 1990 to 1995 - was chosen because it represents a watershed for Japan - politically, economically and diplomatically. It was during this time that the 38 year domestic political dominance of the conservative, business-oriented Liberal Democratic Party ended; that Japan's buoyant and highly prosperous economy severely contracted through the catastrophic bursting of the unsustainably-inflated property bubble; and that Japan took the unprecedented, controversial and hotly debated step of adopting an international peace keeping role for itself outside of its own national borders. The Thesis scrutinizes Japan's relations during this time with four key international actors - the United States of America, the People's Republic of China, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics/Russian Federation, and the Association of South East Asian Nations. Each actor had an important impact upon Japan's security, trade and international standing.Japanese-American relations remained stable, though also underwent some tension owing to American displeasure over Japan's large trade surplus with the United States and to American pressure on Japan to assume more of the burden of defending itself.Japanese-Chinese relations remained relatively cordial, with both countries benefiting from rapidly expanding trade, though tensions emerged over such divisive issues as Chinese nuclear weapons testing and Chinese territorial claims to the Senkaku Islands and over Japanese revision of high school history textbooks dealing with the nature of Japan's military actions during the 1930s and 1940s.Japanese-Russian relations began comparatively well, with early mutual goodwill under the Gorbachev and Yeltsin Governments, only to sour and dissipate over the longstanding issue of possession and governance of the Kurile Islands of Habomai, Shikotan, Kunashiri and Etorofu - with Japan demanding the return of possession and with Russia refusing to relinquish control.Japanese-ASEAN relations were given a high priority and were conducted with a view to Japan's extending its Asian credentials, participating in the economic development of ASEAN Member States and promoting regional stability and mutual goodwill.The Thesis concludes by arguing that Japan during the period under review sought to come to terms with a New World Order ushered in by the end of the Cold War and to reify an appropriate role for itself within a changing world system.