What is the American connection in Japanese Foreign Policy?

Japanese decision makers and public view their nation’s foreign policy through the prism of its relationship with the US. Japan is having difficulty managing its relations with the US in the complex post-Cold War environment: there is increasing pressure from the US for Japan to play a more active role in foreign policy commensurate with its economic power. US pressure was illustrated in the 1991 Persian Gulf when the US led a coalition of the willing to drive Iraq out of its occupation of Kuwait: the US lobbied intensely for Japan to take assertive action – to send minesweepers, use Japan’s airlift capabilities, transport food and supplies for the US-led multinational force, while Bush also made phone calls personally appealing to Japanese officials – the intensive arm twisting transformed Japan’s response into what was a test of Japan’s commitment to the US-Japanese alliance. Japan grappled with the dilemma: non-participation was not an option, Japan had to contribute as an economic power and should play its role in a ‘world division of labor’, but a military contribution would be ruled out. In the end, Japan spent $13 B and sent 100 medical volunteers, supplies to allied forces and equipment to guard the troops against heat.

The post What is the American connection in Japanese Foreign Policy? appeared first on interaksyonph.