Last Unit: Japan-East Asia Economic Relations

• Structure: The bipolar structure of the Cold War constrained Japan’s economic relations with much of East Asia, these relations have flourished post-Cold War, however Japan has faced challenges, e.g. AFC, rise of China;

• Agency: Agents including the various government ministries (esp. METI and MOFA), Keidanren, and pro-China factions of the LDP have been instrumental in developing Japan’s economic relations with East Asia;

• Norms: Asianist and Developmental norms have been at the heart of Japan’s post-war attempts to re-connect with East Asia generally, and China in particular. The norm of Economism, which has served Japan so well, also caused it some to criticise it as an “economic animal”.

Unit 9

Japan’s Security Relations with East Asia

Prof. Glenn Hook

Aim

To apply the concepts and theoretical approach

introduced to Japan’s security relations with

East Asia.

Objectives

(1) To identify the relative importance of structure, agency and norms in

explaining the security relationship with East Asia in the postwar and

post-Cold War eras.

(2) To demonstrate how structure, agency and norms can be used to

explain Japan’s security relationship with East Asia, focusing on

multilateralism.

(3) To explain Japan’s security policy in relation to Taiwan/China.

Introduction• Post-War General Policy:

1. To avoid military entanglements and direct intervention in East Asia;

2. Stress on US-Japan bilateralism (US-Japan security treaty; military bases

for the US);

3. Focused on the economic and diplomatic means (e.g. diplomacy, ODA,

etc.).

• Reasons:

– Domestic:

a. Antimilitarist norm : Article 9 + rest of the legal structure;

b. Concerns over distractions from achieving economic growth;

– U.S.: initially against Japan playing a large role in the Cold War;

Introduction• Post-Cold War Era:

• General Policy:

1. Continuation of its post-WWII policy, based on U.S. Security Treaty (antimilitarist norm;

use of diplomatic and economic instruments, e.g. ODA, etc.);

2. Broad concept of security, continuation and development of security means . . ODA

and other economic and diplomatic instruments, support for US bases, and overseas

deployment of troops (e.g. Cambodia);

Increased complexity in the East Asian security environment

(e.g. North Korea, China, territorial disputes, nuclear and ballistic missile proliferation, and

terrorism)

An American soldier raises the US flag at Shuri Castle in Okinawa

“Tank Man”: An unknown protester confronts tanks as they enter Tiananmen Square in 1989

Berliners climbing over the Berlin Wall as the Soviet Bloc begins to unravel in

1989

Relative Importance of S. A. N. in Japan-East Asia Security Relationship

1. Structure: (1) Cold War Era: • The most important international structure Bipolarity;• Legacy of colonialism; • Japan’s economic ascendance. (2) Post-Cold War Era: • U.S. as the sole superpower; • Legacy of colonialism; • Japan’s economic stagnation;• Emergence of the new security concerns for Japan (North Korea, China,

territorial disputes, nuclear and ballistic missile proliferation, and terrorism);

• Flourishing of multilateral institutions (e.g. ARF – Asean Regional Forum).

Relative Importance of S. A. N. in Japan-East Asia Security Relationship

2. Agency: •Cold War era:

– Yoshida School politicians and bureaucrats. –Ministries (MOFA, MOF,

MITI); –Pro-Asian leaders; –Primarily LDP;

•Post Cold War era:

–Ministries (e.g. MOD);

– Prime ministers;, Foreign

ministers;

–LDP; DPJ; SDPJ.

Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Forces (JMSDF) attend a ceremony to celebrate the anniversary of the founding of the JMSDF

Relative Importance of S. A. N. in Japan-East Asia Security Relationship

3. Norms: • Cold War era:

– Bilateralism + Anti-militarism > > developmentalism +

Asianism

• Post Cold War era:

– Bilateralism (US-Japan security treaty) + Anti-militarism

– Internationalism (?)

Asianism and Developmentalism: Workers assemble a car chassis at a Toyota factory in IndonesiaAnti-militarism: A schoolgirl

rings the Peace Bell in Hiroshima

Multilateralism• Cold War era: Japan against multilateralism, due to bilateral

security arrangements and the fear that multilateral fora could divide Japan from the US

• Post Cold War:Initially focused on bilateralism but soon changed its stance due to:– To keep the US in East Asia; – To engage China especially after its seeming military rise; – Growth in importance of multilateral institutions; – Recognition of a need to develop regional mechanisms to address new

security issues and US support of this option; – A show of Japan’s leadership in East Asia to circumvent the historical

legacy.

Multilateralism• Creation of ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) as a result of Japan’s post-

Cold War multilateral efforts (1994, ASEAN states + US + China + Russia + India, etc.)

Characteristics of the Forum:

– To promote regional security,

– To promotes dialogue between states to improve mutual security;

– Does not demand formal commitment to defend other members.

Proposed stages of development:

– Confidence-building measures;

– Preventive diplomacy;

– Conflict resolution.

ARF Membership

Multilateralism• Japan’s strategic use of the ASEAN Regional Forum

(ARF):

– ARF allows Japan to contribute to regional security;

– To utilize the ARF to push its own agenda (North Korea

nuclear threat; abduction issue);

– Use ARF to enhance confidence between East Asian states, to

deal with historical legacy;

– ARF fits with the antimilitarist norm and does not conflict with

the US-Japan security treaty.

Multilateralism

• Summary of the ARF in Japan’s international security policy:

– A supplement to the US-Japan security treaty;

– Of secondary concern for Japan in the face of bilateralism;

– Being supported by the internationalist and antimilitarist norms

– The core of Japan’s security concerns dealt with by the

maintenance of the security treaty with the US.

The rise of China and the Taiwan

Issue

The Rise of China and the Taiwan Issue: Cold War Era

• The U.S. Japan-Security Treaty, U.S. troops in Japan, and the Taiwan question;

• US troops based in Japan could be used in Taiwan-related incidents;

• PM Kishi 1960: Treaty included Taiwan;• 1970s China détente eased tensions – China

even looks for anti-hegemony clause;• 1979 Taiwan Relations Act.

The Rise of China and the Taiwan Issue: Post Cold War Era

• 1996 Guidelines for Defence Cooperation: “shūhen” – “areas around Japan”;

• From Geographic to Situational understanding of Treaty;

• Chinese anger about guidelines, also legacy of history issues, e.g. Yasukuni Shrine, textbooks;

• Meanwhile Chinese actions cause concern in Japan• Nuclear Tests, Military Spending, Taiwan Straits Crisis 1996,

etc leads to ODA cuts, “China Threat” theory;• Taiwan Straits Crisis illustrated how Japan could get

caught up in US-China conflict. Senkaku/Diaoyu Dispute illustrates how US could get caught up in Japan-China conflict

Conclusion: Japan’s Response to Regional Issues

• Structure, Agency and Norms: – Structure: From bipolarity to unipolarity . . Moving to multipolarity? New concerns e.g. DPRK,

China; Emergence of multilateral institutions– Agency: Yoshida School politicians and bureaucrats (esp METI & MOFA), political parties, LDP

and (in the recent pre-Abe era) DPJ/SDP leaders;– Norms: Cold War governed by anti-militarism and bilateralism; today bilateralism still very strong,

anti-militarism eroding. Development of internationalism.

• Japan has strengthened its security relations with the US

(1) Japan further reintegrated into the US alliance system;

(2) US and Japan reaffirmed the US-Japan Security Treaty; revised the 1978 Guidelines for Defense

Cooperation a widened role for the Japanese military to assist the US military during a military crisis

in ‘areas surrounding Japan’ (shūhen); a fundamental shift in Japan’s security role in East Asian

affairs;

Bilateralism is emphasized over multilateral institutions