Japan At The Summit

This book, first published in 1990 and written from a Japanese perspective, examines the gradual transformation of Japan's traditional role in world politics since the Second World War. With Japan's postwar economic success came calls from many quarters for it to match its economic involvement with an equal commitment to international political relations. The book discusses in detail the realization by Japan's leadership that international cooperation must take place on many diverse levels, and focuses on Japan's involvement in Western affairs during the 1980s, through participation in the seven-power economic and political summits and dialogue at the meetings of ASEAN.

""As we celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the ASEAN-Japan Dialogue Partnership, the essays in this book remind us, and amplify the ASEAN-Japan relations. The complexities of this relationship, including the external influences which have impinged on its development over the years, are cogently discussed and recorded for the younger generation and students of ASEAN-Japan ties. The intricacy and spread of ASEAN-Japan cooperation mechanisms are also well highlighted in this book, while several thought-provoking commentaries on the future of this four-decade old partnership give pause to the reade.

3 From Asian financial crisis to Jiang Zemin's visit to Japan -- 4 Development of multilateral diplomacy and increase of frictions -- 6 Japan-China relations at the start of the twenty-first century: the rocky path to a strategic mutually beneficial relationship -- 1 From start of the Koizumi administration to start of the Hu Jintao administration -- 2 Yasukuni visit problem and anti-Japanese protests -- 3 Formation, development, and limits of strategic mutually beneficial relations -- 4 Japan-China GDP trading places and Senkaku Islands -- 7 The current state of Japan-China relations: navigating a fragile relationship -- 1 Start of new administrations and stagnation of Japan-China relations -- 2 Political bargaining over Japan-China summit at Beijing APEC -- 3 Japan-China relations 70 years after the war's end -- Guide to further reading in English -- Chronology of key events -- Index -- Index of names

Japan faces significant challenges in both traditional and non-traditional areas of national security policy as the economic resurgence of China and the loss of US hegemonic clout significantly transform the strategic landscape of the Asia-Pacific region. How is Japan coping with this new global and regional politico-security environment? What strategic moves has it taken to best position itself for the future to maximize its global and regional influence? More importantly, how is Japan perceived within the region by traditionally close regional partners such as the US and Australia, by supporters in Southeast Asia, and by new competitors — most prominently China and India? What international role do these nations wish Japan to play? In this comprehensive volume, these crucial questions are explored in-depth by a group of scholars both distinguished and diverse. Contents:Traditional Security:Japan's Strategic Options? (Katahara Eiichi)The US–Japan Alliance in the 21st Century: A Chinese Perspective (Wang Jian Wei)China and Japan: Hot Economics, Cold Politics? (Li Mingjiang)Japan's Strategic Response to North Korea: Activistic Security Policy, Eroding Pacifism (Kim Sung Chull)A 'United' Community in a Divided Region: Southeast Asia, Japan, China, and East Asian Community (Pavin Chachavalpongpun)India and Japan: Sharing Strategic Interests? (Arpita Mathur)Australia and Japan: Toward a Full Security Partnership? (David Walton)Non-Traditional Security:Japan's Human Security and Peace-building: Between Aspirations and Limitations (Lam Peng Er)Piracy and Maritime Security: Japan's Strategic Challenges (Sam Bateman)Japan and the G8/G20: A Global/Regional Strategy in Financial Governance (Joel Rathus)The Triple Disaster and Japan's Energy and Climate Change Policies (Purnendra Jain)Rethinking Security in Japan: In Search of a Post-'Postwar' Narrative (Satoh Haruko) Readership: Advanced undergraduate and graduate students of Japanese foreign relations and East Asian security; researchers interested in comparative security perspectives. Keywords:Japan's Strategy;Domestic Factors;External Relations;Non-Traditional Strategic IssuesKey Features:Deals with Japan's traditional and non-traditional strategic issuesUp-to-date analysis with new materials (G-20, human security, energy and climate change issues in the wake of the March 2011 triple disaster of earthquake, tsunami and nuclear radioactivity in Japan)