A Comparative Analysis of Abe＇s and Fukuda＇s Asia Diplomacy

As Abe was replaced by Fukuda, Japan＇s domestic and foreign policies were also amended. Abe＇s ＂proactive diplomacy＂ has been replaced by Fukuda＇s ＂synergy diplomacy＂ which emphasizes strengthening the Japan-U.S. alliance and Japan＇s ties with Asia. Abe＇s diplomacy toward Asia was characterized by ＂value oriented diplomacy＂, whereas Fukuda seeks to carry out ＂active diplomacy toward Asia＂ after his cabinet was formed. The changes in foreign policy of the Abe and Fukuda cabinets show that Japan＇s nationalist foreign policy is evolving in twists and turns from being radical to being more rational against the backdrop of domestic and international political reality. To explore this change and its causes is conducive to the better understanding of some features of Japan＇s diplomacy toward Asia.     

Why Is the Abe Government so Anxious to Improve Relations with China？-Why Is Shinzo Abe so Eager to Improve Relations with China？

Editor＇s Note： Sino-Japanese relations have been tense in recent years. In Jparticular, since Abe came to power, Japan has not only been ＂desperately struggling＂ with China on territorial and historical issues, but has also tried to set up an ＂encircling network＂ against China. Thus Sino-Japanese relations have emerged as the most risky bilateral relations in the Asia-Pacific region. As the two largest powers in East Asia, and the world＇s second and third largest economies, the continuing confrontation between China and Japan will have huge negative repercussions on regional and global peace. With the approaching of the APEC meeting, however, the Abe government has repeatedly expressed its hopes for diplomatic dialogue with China. The Abe government＇s shift in attitude towards China from ＂hard＂ to a new ＂moderate＂ position has attracted wide international attention. We cannot help but ask：     

安倍外交调整动向及未来中日关系（英文）

Japan’s recent warming relations with China is a demonstration of,and continuation of,the proactive foreign policy adjustments by the Abe government.It reflects Abe’s consistent pursuit of Japan’s major-power status and pragmatic diplomacy.Under new historical circumstances,it is in both sides’common interests to foster a stable and sound bilateral relationship.     

U.S.-China-Japan Relations and China＇ s Strategic Choices

japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe＇s visit to the Yasukuni Shrine has escalated tensions between China and Japan that were triggered by the Diaoyu Islands dispute. Changes in the balance of power between China and Japan have caused concerns and strategic restlessness in Japan. Because of public opinion and his party＇s control of the House of Representatives and Senate, Abe is now eager to further his aims both domestically and overseas. That is why he said： ＂Now is the time for Japan to take the big step in building a new state.＂ The U.S. supports a stronger Japan because it is looking to maintain the strategic balance in the Asia-Pacific region. Its Asia-Pacific Rebalancing strategy is bound to inflame Japan＇s ambitions. In fact, Japan has been actively pursuing stronger ties with the U.S. and became more aggressive over the Diaoyu Islands issue.     

The ＂Abe/Aso Regime＂ and Sino-Japanese Relations

Following the Japanese Liberal Democratic Party＇s victory in the December 2012 election, some Japanese analysts pointed out that the new Abe/Aso Govemment would introduce rightist policies, and that as such it would be more difficult for China and Japan to improve their bilateral relations. As expected, in the past six months since its coming to power, the Abe cabinet has vigorously promoted so-called ＂Abe economics＂ and implemented a quantitative easing monetary policy that has caused a drastic depreciation of the Japanese Yen. In order to revise the ＂Constitution of Japan＂, in July 2013 it has been striving to win the election of the Senate. Externally, the new cabinet members have frequently visited foreign countries, implementing a diplomatic strategy of containing and countering China. One of its aims is to completely rid itself of the shackles of World War II and to try to reconstruct powerful military forces. The Diaoyu Islands issue has been used by the Abe cabinet to serve its domestic and foreign policy objectives,     

Huge Task to Improve Japanese Public＇ s Dim View of China

after Shinzo Abe became Japanese prime minister again, the nation -adopted a much tougher China policy. While Abe has continued hispredecessor＇s aim of trying to contain China, he has also injected confrontation into ties. Particularly when Sino-Japanese relations are at a deadlock because of territorial disputes, and despite opposition from various parties, Abe has visited the Yasukuni Shrine. Although this provocative act is the consequence of many factors, both domestic and foreign, one that cannot be ignored is the Japanese public＇s hostile view of China     

The Inherent Logic behind Rising China-Japan Tensions

Regardless of the basic principles governing bilateral relations over -the past four decades and the possible damage to the interests of the people of the two countries, the Japanese government has deliberately touched China＇s raw nerve frequently over delicate issues in disputes over the past couple of years. In 2010, the Naha prefectural court attempted to put on trial a Chinese boat captain detained for fishing near the disputed Diaoyu Islands. In 2012, under the pretext of preventing Tokyo Governor Ishihara Shintaro from ＂purchasing＂ these islands, the Yoshihiko Noda cabinet attempted to ＂nationalize＂ them. In 2013, flying in the face of world opinion, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe insisted on paying a visit to the notorious Yasukuni Shrine, where the ashes of Class A war criminals are enshrined, and hinted at similar action in the future. Are these all the action of individual political leaders？ If not, what is Tokyo up to？ What of bilateral relations？     

Sino-Japanese Relations and ADIZ

Sino-Japanese relations have recently deteriorated as Japan＇s Abe government has made public visits to the Yasukuni Shrine. The situation also provides an opportunity for us to better understand Uae strategic significance of the establishment of ＂the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone＂（＂ADIZ＂）.     

The Inability of Japan to Adapt to China＇ s Rise and China＇ s Strategic Response

since China first surpassed Japan in 2010 to become the world＇s second largest economy, the continuing friction and tensions between China and Japan has intensified around issues such as the Diaoyu Islands and the East China Sea air defense identification zone. At the end of 2013, with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe＇s visit to the Yasukuni Shrine, the Sino-Japanese relationship was brought to the lowest point in nearly 30 years. What are the deep-seated reasons for this？ What are Japan＇s strategic intentions？ These questions are worthy of further exploration.     

Strategic Risks and Japanese Right Wing Must Not Be Underestimated

the majority of the people from the Asia Pacific, especially those from China, South Korea and North Korea that were badly hurt by Japanese militarism, have been filled with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited righteous indignation when Japanese the Yasukuni Shrine on December 26, 2013 and with the resurgence of the Japanese Right Wing. However, many of these people do not take these developments seriously. They see Abe as someone with few supporters and Japan＇s Right Wing as having little power. Further, Japan＇s military might is now much weaker than the ＂militarist era＂ before the Second World War. Thus, they do not think that Abe and the Right Wing can do much harm today. They underestimate the risk that their actions pose to Asia-Pacific peace. They are not correct and this thinking can also be dangerous. They lack a deeper understanding of Japan＇s special political and social structure, their historical, cultural and strategic traditions, as well as their unique national disposition--such as lower levels effecting a fait accompli, daring to take risks, a tendency to attack and cruel belligerence.     

Abstracts

1.The Korean Nuclear Issue Tests Obama＇s Asia Diplomacy,.by Shi Yongming, Senior Researcher, China Institute of International Studies and Guest Researcher of CPDS. Obama＇s Asia policy has just shown an outline of its ＂smart diplomacy＂, i.e., on the premise of sticking to the basic strategy, it attaches great importance to strengthening relationship with the newly-emerging powers and seeks to extend the U.S. influence on Asia by means of dialogue and cooperation. However, the Korean nuclear issue, which is very likely to reach a complicated and even dangerous impasse, is now testing Asia policy of the U.S. new administration. The issue is not only a strategic bottleneck that is a reflection of U.S.-DPRK relationship, but also is constrained by Japan and ROK, whose interests are closely related to the changes of the situation, as well as by some political elements in the U.S.     

ABSTRACTS

The Right of Collective Self-Defense： the Essential Features of the Japan-US Military Alliance
Wang Ping
This paper, through studying the debate and wrestling on constitutional amendment and lifting the ban on the right of collective self-defense in the post war Japan, has traced the historical development of Japan, ＂the abnormal child＂ of the Cold War system, in drafting contradictory constitution, and entering conflicting peace accords and the US-Japan Security Treaty under the control of the US, and the changes of Japanese government＇ s explanation in regard to constitutional amendment and lifting the ban on the right of collective self- defense. The paper also pointed out the reasons and results of the Andouble administration trying to amend the constitution and lift the ban on the right of collective self-defense, and analyzed Japan＇ s third political right deviation as well as the goals of its third national development strategy, namely becoming a military power, while sorting out and analyzing the formation and features of the Japan-US military alliance.     

The ＂War of Nerves＂ between China and Japan will Be Another Protracted War

Over the past two years since his remm to power, Abe has been implementing a hard-line foreign strategy, and openly ＂challenging＂ and ＂desperately struggling with＂ China. Specifically, the Abe government has been forcefully pursuing a strategy of ＂active pacifism＂, such as ＂revising the constitution＂, lifting the ban on collective defense and modifying the ＂three principles＂ on arms export, implementing a so-called ＂overlooking the globe＂ diplomacy that takes a cold line on neighboring countries such as China and South Korea, and seeking to make joint efforts with Australia, India, the Philippines, Vietnam and USA in order to set up a sea encirclement against China. As Prime Minister, Abe not only paid an open visit to the Yasukuni Shrine, but also repeatedly denied the history of Japanese invasion in China, as well as its aggressive consequences and associated guilt.     

The Origin and Essence of U.S.Neutrality Policy on the Diaoyu Islands Dispute

It is common knowledge that the focus of the China-Japan dispute over the Diaoyu Islands1 is the question of sovereignty. Some scholars from both home and abroad have defined the issue as one between China and Japan. However, the basis for the Japanese government＇s territory claim2 over the Diaoyu Islands lies in U.S.-Japan backroom deals, and this has meant that the U.S. is also closely connected to the China-Japan dispute over the sovereignty of the Islands. When the U.S. transferred the Diaoyu Islands to Japan, it stated its neutral position over the issue. To date, all the previous U.S. administrations have basically followed this policy, and they often reiterated this policy at moments of intensification in the Diaoyu Islands issue. This means that that even though there is the close alliance between the U.S. and Japan, the U.S. has maintained its neutral position with regard to the sovereignty of the Diaoyu Islands, and never taken the view that the sovereignty of the Diaoyu Islands belongs to Japan. The repeatedly reiterated U.S. position of neutrality could be taken as holding no position on the issue of sovereignty, but of having a clear-cut position alongside Japan on the issue of security. Scholars have produced numerous works on the issue of the U.S. position on the China-Japan dispute over the Diaoyu Islands. By reviewing the historical evolvement of the U.S. position in relation to the Diaoyu Islands, this article will systematically investigate the origins of the U.S. neutrality policy, using documentary materials from China, Japan and the U.S..     

＂New Thinking＂ in Japan＇s Diplomacy--On the New Fukuda Doctrine

In September 2008, Yasuo Fukuda resigned after serving for a year as prime minister, and then Taro Aso formed a new cabinet. Due to the boycott of the opposition parties in the Diet, which wielded the majority, the Fukuda cabinet had achieved little in terms of internal affair. In foreign affairs, however, it left a deep impression by improving relations with China and advancing the New Fukuda Doctrine. As for the Aso cabinet, people were once worried that troubles might erupt in China-Japan relations given Aso＇s past stand. But since taking office as prime minister, Aso has kept a positive attitude toward promoting China-Japan relations and Asian diplomacy. Then what are the new considerations of Japan in its Asian diplomacy and Japan-China relations？ What position do China-Japan relations occupy in Japan＇s Asian diplomacy？ What are the tendencies of Japan＇s Asian diplomacy and its China policy？ All these issues warrant in-depth probing.     

Diplomatic and Security Strategies of the Obama Administration： Has the ＂Time of Change＂ Come？

It is of great significance to study the diplomacy and security strategies of the Obama administration which took office on 20th January 2009, not only because of the current global financial crisis but also because of Obama＇s ＂politics of change＂, a slogan raised by him in the campaign. How to lead America out of the seemingly ＂still deteriorating domestic financial and economic dilemma is not only the most important criterion for judging Obama＇s governance capability but also the biggest obstacle affecting the new Democrat administration＇s domestic and foreign policies. To analyze the adjustments of the Obama administration＇s foreign and security policies, we must focus our attention on how it will take corresponding measures to overcome the financial crisis and how to put its campaign slogan ＂politics of change＂ into practice. In retrospect of the Obama administration＇s first three-month performance, the ＂politics of change＂ promised by him has dramatically evolved into the ＂diplomacy of change＂ first. In the following sections, we will thoroughly analyze the trend of the new administration＇s diplomatic and security strategies on the basis of its first one-hundred-day performance.     

ABSTRACTS

BJP secured victory in India＇s recent general election with a landslide win and new Prime Minister Narendra Medi＇s foreign policy has become an issue of wide attention. According to the author, BJP government will continue India＇s effort to be among global powers; emphasize its engagement with major powers such as the US and China while safeguard its strategic autonomy; and improve its troubled ties with Pakistan. India will conduct pragmatic diplomacy in economic ccoporation, non-traditional and maritime security, and its Look East thrust. A stable Sino-India relationship is expectably likely during Medi＇s tenure in view of the robust bilateral economic engagement despite difficulty in resolving their border disputes.     

Reflections on New China＇s Diplomacy in the Past 60 Years

On October 1, 1949, the People＇s Republic of China was found-ed, thus opening up a new era in the historical development of the Chinese nation and initiating the glorious and spectacular historic course of New China＇s diplomacy. In the past 60 years, the theory and practice of China＇s diplomacy, transcending the state-centered perspective and the Western traditional diplomatic concepts of ＂equilibrium＂, ＂power＂, ＂containment＂,＂interference＂, ＂alliance＂, ＂geopolitics＂ and ＂sphere of influence＂, have adhered to the scientific spirit, grasped the trends of the times and embodied the common aspirations of mankind.     

Japan＇s UN Diplomacy and Its Prospects

Japan＇s diplomacy related to the United Nations can be traced back to 1956 when it formally joined the United Nations. After raising the goal of becoming a ＂political power＂ in the 1980s, Japan, in order to boost its international status, has spared no efforts on enforcing its diplomacy toward the United Nations. Boasting the world＇s second largest economy, Japan, after the end of the Cold War, openly declared its pursuance of permanent membership of the UN Security Council and competed for a permanent seat on the Council respectively during the 50th and 60th Sessions of the UN General Assembly held in 1995 and 2005. Besides, by rallying G4, Japan also aligned with Germany, India and Brazil in jointly claiming permanent seats on the UN Security Council. Though suffering repeated setbacks, Japan has never given up its attempt in this regard.