Japanese foreign policy was based on the Yoshida Doctrine under which Japan concentrated on economic affairs relying national security on the United States. Therefore Japanese foreign policy could not be independent from American influence during the ...
Japanese foreign policy was based on the Yoshida Doctrine under which Japan concentrated on economic affairs relying national security on the United States. Therefore Japanese foreign policy could not be independent from American influence during the Cold War era. As there appeared detente structures of international relation in the early 1970s and the interdependent Japan-Amerian relationships emerged in terms of economic development, Japan could enjoy a relative autonomy from America.
Through this policy change, Japan invented a new foreign policy which was independent from or sometimes conflicting with American interest. Japan sought independent interest in a various policy issue areas such as economy and national security. Japan also led independent foreign policy in the Middle East, the South East Asia and South Africa. Through the Nixon shock and Oil shock, Japan prepared a diplomacy for natural resource and responsive diplomacy, and engaged in a diplomacy in all direction. Japan also strengthened the separation of politics and economics.
Based on the separation of politics and economics, Japanese policy to North Korea focused on economic exchange as well as followed the East Asian policy of the United States. As the Cold War was over, Japan strengthened diplomatic autonomy and was able to initiate a negotiation of diplomatic relationship with North Korea. Therefore, Japanese North Koran policy was dual sided with oppression and negotiation. While the Bush Administration employed a hard line policy toward North Korea, Koizumi Administration held the Japan-North Korea Summit twice emphasizing dialogue with North Korea. Nevertheless, Japanese autonomy was only possible only under the limitation that the Japan-American alliance was not damaged.