Ch 35 Prewar Record
1. from 600 to 1800's, Japan had virtually no links to the outside world
exceptions:
a little contact with Dutch,
Portugeses in 1600's
Mongol attempt to conquer
Japan in 1200's
Hideyoshi's attempt to conquer
Korea 1592-1598
2. Meiji period brought them into world affairs, acquiring technology,
trade
imperialism, Wars with China 1895-95, Russia 1904-5
Expansion into Taiwan, Korea, China
eventually Southeast Asia, Indonesia, etc.
Ch 36 Neutrality versus Alignment
Foreign Policy issues in past:
1. try to stay neutral in Cold War (like India)
note: large social support
for this, large periodic demonstrations
advantages:
conforms
to idea of pacifism
maintain good ties with USSR, China
improve relations with the rest of Asia, angry at past militarism
disadvantages:
weaker relations with US for economic access and military support
2. Ally with the US (Security Treaty 1952, revised 1960, 1997)
advantages:
Close relations with US
good for economic development
Keep Japanese military expenditures
low
Nuclear umbrella
disadvantages
Interfere with relations
with USSR, China
US military bases an insult
to Japanese pride
Risk being drawn into war
linked to communism in Europe
"horizontal escalation"
U.S. bases
targeted at Vladivostok
3. "Self Defense" Spending
a. Supreme court ruled in 1959 that "self defence"
was constitutional
b. try to keep it around 1% GNP
c. constant US pressure to expand spending, role
of SDF for patroling sea lanes
4. other issues
Vietnam war, how to respond
Okinawa, dealing with US bases, how to recover
China: 1971, 1979, US improve relations with China
surprised Japan, which had
been recognizing Taiwan
Korea
evaluation of risk of North
Korea
note: Japan's Korean minority
supports North Korea, sends money
Russia
Japan near key naval resources
for Russia
Should Japan invest heavily
in exploitation of Siberian resources?
recovery of Kuril Kslands
Whaling prohibitions
5. Current major issues (2005-2006)
After 60 years, isn't World War II over?