Suchergebnisse

An earlier version of this paper, titled "Japan's China Policy: Implications for US-Japan Relations," appeared in the Nov 1998 issue of Asian Survey, 38(11): 1067-85. Sino-Japanese relations began to deteriorate in 1995 & are still tense, even with a warming of ties between the US (Japan's ally) & the People's Republic of China. The US & Japan both hold deep-seated mutual suspicion of China, but both want to cultivate friendly relations with Beijing, albeit using different strategies. Japan wants to engage China in an interdependent & government-supported relationship that constrains Chinese behavior, while the US has taken a laissez faire approach & relies on private-sector activity. A rise in Chinese power or economic activity would present a broader challenge for Japan than the US, so its policy responses to China are more comprehensive & diverse. They include trade & investment promotion, energy, environmental issues, & defense. Because the US & Japanese strategies differ, Sino-US relationship changes affect Japanese comfort with their China policy & with US-Japan relations. The implications of change in the current dynamics, unlikely to hold for long, on bilateral relations among the three countries are discussed. M. Pflum

View that frustration with US dominance and fear of weakening US regional commitment will force Japan to pursue close ties with its Asian neighbours, balancing China's influence.

Johnstone reviews 'Arming Japan: Defense Production, Alliance Politics, and the Postwar Search for Autonomy' by Michael J. Green.