Japan's dilemma in the US-Japan alliance.
Relations between China and the United States have declined sharply during Trump's tenure, and although the pace of decline in China and the United States has slowed since Biden took office, the situation has not changed substantially. Japan has always followed the foreign strategy of the United States, but its assertive attitude in the Taiwan Strait has made relations between China and Japan even more tense. Japan's diplomacy toward Russia is once again in a dilemma, and it is difficult to find a balance between the United States, Europe, and Russia. Japan has always regarded the Japan-US alliance as the "basic axis" of its foreign affairs, and on the one hand it has worked hard to consolidate its ties with the United States, and on the other hand, it has wanted to establish good ties with Russia. However, Japan's foreign relations are often in a dilemma due to the constraints of the U.S.-Japan alliance.
1. Japan's foreign problems during the Japan-US alliance.
In the Trump era, there has been a discord between China and the United States, and Japan has followed closely behind the United States, and its attitude towards China has been constantly rising; Moreover, Sino-US relations have eased somewhat after the Biden administration, but Japan still cannot get rid of its dependence on the United States, which is also its diplomatic dilemma. Japan has struggled to maintain a close alliance with the United States, but its ties to Russia now appear to be a dilemma. In this dilemma, Japan has been unable to obtain an independent "power" policy for a long time, but has remained silent and made concessions under the US policy of containing China.
2. Japan is faced with national interests and an independent foreign policy.
Kanesugi Ken, Japan's new representative to China, recently made a series of comments on the fact that China and Japan should not be influenced by the United States and Japan, and emphatically pointed out that Japan has its own national interests. The move is intended to awaken the outside world that Japan's foreign policy is based on its own interests and should not be constrained by other aspects. Kanesugi Ken believes that in the post-crisis period, it is necessary for Japan to pursue an independent foreign policy and attach importance to its relations with China. This change reflects the fact that Japan's leaders are rethinking their foreign policy as they seek to free themselves from dependence on the United States and restore their own interests and autonomy.
3. New Explorations and Challenges in Japan's Foreign Policy.
During the Russia-Ukraine war, Japan joined forces with the United States and Europe to impose sanctions on Russia, putting it in an embarrassing diplomatic situation. At the same time, the Japanese rightists continued to play up the Taiwan issue in a big way, echoing the "anti-China" policy of the United States, and the diplomatic relations between China and Japan deteriorated further. Outside of this region, Japan is also facing the problem of discharging nuclear wastewater, which is opposed by many countries. Now, Japan has begun to show its introspective side, trying to free itself from its role as a lackey toward the United States, and has begun to advocate an "independent" foreign policy in the hope of better promoting cooperation with China and promoting world peace and stability.
The U.S.-JAPAN-ROK alliance and regional security issues.
The United States has continued to provoke confrontation between the two camps in Northeast Asia, vigorously promoted the military alliance between the United States and Japan, and built a "cold war" model through Japan and South Korea, resulting in a situation of "political coldness and economic coldness" between China and Japan. Under such circumstances, Japan's foreign policy orientation has also received extensive attention, especially in the face of the US strategy of containing China, and how Japan should deal with regional security issues is particularly important.
1. The military alliance and regional situation of the United States, Japan, and South Korea.
After the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, the United States has tried to get Japan and South Korea to strengthen military cooperation between the two countries to build a regional confrontation model. However, this move has not only further escalated the contradictions between China and Japan, but also increased the security risks in the region. Despite the military assistance provided by the United States, Japan's own security situation has not been protected as it should be, and it has become a victim of the power game.
2. Regional integration of China and Japan.
The remarks made by the Japanese ambassador to Japan have triggered a new reflection between China and Japan. Japan no longer wants to be influenced by the United States and Japan and seeks to establish an independent foreign policy. This transition will help ease tensions between China and Japan and promote regional security and stability. However, Japan cannot completely break away from the constraints imposed on China by the US-Japan alliance in the near future; However, in the medium to medium term, Japan may seek an independent strategy that is compatible with China's peaceful development trend.
The conclusion is: For a long time, due to its dependence on the United States, Japan has encountered many difficulties and challenges in its foreign policy. However, the statement of Japan's new representative to China, Ken Kanesugi, suggests that Japan's leaders are rethinking their foreign policy in order to move away from dependence on the United States and seek independent foreign relations. Through reflection on China-Japan relations and the regional security situation, we can provide an opportunity for Japan to get out of the current diplomatic predicament and build a more stable and peaceful East Asia. Japan should have a good grasp of the world situation, grasp the development trend of its own country, and strike a balance between maintaining peaceful coexistence between itself and the region, so as to gain more opportunities for development.