YIJC JC2 H1 History Notes (Japan)

Compiled by: Chris Loke (Jan 2024) 64 YIJC H1 HISTORY GCE A LEVEL THEME II (Syllabus: 8838) THE COLD WAR & EAST ASIA: 1945 – 1991 CHAPTER 2 – JAPAN & THE COLD WAR: 1952 - 1991 a) Development of Japan: US Relations i. Alliance & Tensions: Security Alliance, Share of Defence Burden, Economic Relations (Aid, Trade, Market Access) ii. Factors Shaping Relations: Japan’s Economic Status, Japan’s Domestic Politics (Differences over Japan’s Alliance with US, Role of Japan’s Security Forces, Consensus on Nuclear Weapons), Japan’s Perceptions of Communist Threat, US Cold War Strategy b) Japan’s Other Responses to Cold War I. Political Responses: Impact of Relations, Engagement of China II. Economic Responses: Impact of Relations, Engagement of China & SEA This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

Compiled by: Chris Loke (Jan 2024) 65 1 Learning Outcomes - Evaluate the development of Japan’s relationship with the superpowers during the Cold War - Evaluate the factors that shape Japan’s relations with the superpowers during the Cold War - Evaluate the response of Japan to the development of the Cold Wa 1 chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.seab.gov.sg/docs/default-source/national-examinations/syllabus/alevel/2024syllabus/8838_y24_sy.pdf

Compiled by: Chris Loke (Jan 2024) 66 INQUIRY: 1) How important was SECURITY in shaping the relationship? 2) Was the US CONSTANTLY in control of developments in the relationship? Is it surprising? Overall Analysis of Significance OVER TIME:2 Over the course of four decades, Japan’s role in the US Cold War strategy was transformed from a rear basing area for combat operations in the Korean and Vietnam Wars to that of participant in the regional military balance of forces between the US and the former Soviet Union; with implications on China and the Cold War in turn as well. Japan’s role in US strategy during the latter part of the Cold War also reflected Japan’s great economic and technological strength, the growing capability of the Japanese Self-Defence Force (SDF), as well as the need to respond to improvements in Soviet naval and air deployments in the Pacific.3 Two major trends are visible throughout the Cold War period: - As the US military’s physical presence diminished on the main island, its composition changed coincident to the flow of the strategic competition between the Soviet Union and the US. - Japan’s economic growth and the rehabilitation of the military increased Tokyo’s value to the US in the effort to compete with the Soviet Union. As an ally of the US, Japan’s primary mechanism for coping with global changes that impinge upon its security has been through collaboration with the US. Since 1952, the US-Japan alliance has provided the context within which Japan developed its post-war security policy, and as US strategy unfolded over the course of the Cold War, Japan’s role in that strategy expanded. For much of the Cold War however, Japan’s military was excluded from the bilateral security dialogue. It was ONLY until Japan regained its economic strength that there was interest in promoting operational coordination between the US & Japanese militaries. And while Japan’s military played almost no role in the implementation of US Cold War strategy during the early years, the US military on the other hand played a SIGNIFICANT ROLE in DEVELOPMENT of Japan’s Self-Defence Force (SDF). The Cold War context of the evolution of military cooperation between the US & Japan both hindered and helped the alliance dialogue. In the early years of the Cold War, there was greater concern within Japan that the alliance would inevitably involve Japan in a war, and the resistance to the notion of joint military planning stemmed from deep divisions over the US goals. In terms of operational cooperation between the US & Japanese militaries, however, US forward deployments not only contributed to Japan’s own defense needs but made the presence of US forces in the region certain. When US forces were reduced in the 1970s, Japan’s government realized for the first time the need for a direct dialogue over how military cooperation outlined in the bilateral treaty would be implemented. 2 Michael Green and Patrick Cronin, The US-Japan Alliance: Past, Present, and Future 3 Michael Green and Patrick Cronin, The US-Japan Alliance: Past, Present, and Future, p.74 Part A - Development of Japan: US Relations (1952 – 1991) Alliance & Tensions: Security, Defence Burden Share, Economic Relations (Aid / Trade / Access)

Compiled by: Chris Loke (Jan 2024) 67 1950s 1951 US-Japan Security Treaty & 1952 Peace Treaty PM Yoshida avoided US call for Japan to rearm & emphasized economic recovery instead. Private Exchanges with China only given the constraints of US alliance and Japan-Taiwan Peace Treaty of 1952 PM Hatoyama established relations with USSR and sought an autonomous foreign policy. After Japan successfully joined the United Nations in Dec 1956, PM Kishi negotiated with the US to revise the Japan-US Security Treaty to make the relationship more mutual. PM Kishi’s 3 Principles of Japanese Foreign Policy - Assigning Central Importance to the United Nations - Cooperating with the Free World - Strengthening Japan’s position as a Member of Asia 1960s Japan, led by PM Ikeda and then PM Sato, was able to concentrate on high economic growth while keeping a distance from the unstable political developments in Asia, thanks to being under the security of the Japan-US bilateral security treaty. The secure political situation and the benevolent hegemonic power of the US provided the ideal environment for Japan’s unusual high economic growth that dramatically increased Japan’s international standing and further reduced its domestic political tensions. Japanese defense strength also began to increase - Modernization of the SDF’s weaponry progressed - Defense spending increased from 157 billion yen (1960) to 569 billion yen (1970) Shaking of US-Japan Relations over Vietnam War - Most of the Japanese public felt the war lacked legitimacy - Anti-Vietnam War movement became an important part of student movement especially with American B-52 bombers and naval vessels leaving for Vietnam from US bases in Japan. Relations with South Korea & Southeast Asia - US felt that the failure of Japan & South Korea to normalize ties was an impediment to implementing its strategy against Soviet Union & China - Japan & South Korea left out the problematic issue of fishery from negotiations and successfully normalized ties. - Under PM Sato, Japan actively reached out to Southeast Asia for economic reasons and to prevent the communization of the region through stabilizing the people’s livelihoods. Relations with China: No Improvement - Because the US did not recognize Beijing and continued to support Taiwan, Japan could not open formal relations with mainland China. - PM Sato’s priority was on the reversion of Okinawa to Japan from the US

Compiled by: Chris Loke (Jan 2024) 68 1970s Despite the global crises of the Nixon Shock and Oil Shocks, Japan overcame them and further strengthened its foundations as a global economic power. As détente gave way to tensions in the Cold War, Japan would cooperate with the West as an important player. Japanese diplomacy was able to move beyond the simplistic debate over dependence on US or independence, toward the question of playing a larger and deeper role globally and regionally. The Nixon Shock (suspending the US$ gold exchange) and US rapprochement with China happened without any consultation with Japan, and the Japanese public felt that the US was shifting to anti-Japanese policy of harming Japan’s economic interests. Changes in Sino-Japanese & Soviet-Japanese Relations - Met in Beijing in 1972 to normaliz