During The Cold War The U.s. Strategy In Asia Under The Framework Of Japan-thailand Relations

This dissertation for a doctorate studies a series of changes which happeded in the process of the reconstruction and development of Japan-Thai relations during the Cold War.Japan and Thailand had maintained a close assocition and a good diplomatic tratition in history. When the Pacific War broke out, the Japanese imperialists implemented the so-called "South-bound Operation Plan" and invaded many countires in Southeast Asia on a large scale. Thailand then formed an alliance with Japan and declared war against the United States and the United Kingdom, thus maintained the national independence. However, after World Warâ…¡, Thailand had not been defined as one of the defeated nations under the protection of the Unites States, so it maintained the national independence and integrity of sovereignty again. The American help laid a foundation for Thailand's following the Asian strategy of the United States during the Cold War. Japan experienced a post-war occupation by the United States alone. Under American munipulation, it ultimately realized peace with a minortity of western countries through San Francisco Treaty of Peace with Japan, which terminated the US occupation. Later, Japan made further efforts to sign a "US-Japan Security Treaty" which meant it established a military secutiry alliance with the United States and since then it has become a subordinate member of the US camp and has carried out anti-communist and pro-US policy.After the formation of the Cold War pattern in Asia, the United States imposed policies to contain China and compete for control over the countrie over IndoChina. Thailand actively implemented U.S. strategy and became its closest allies in Southeast Asia. The core of Japan's foreign policy during the Cold War is also the depedence and following of the United States. Japan and Thailand are both linkes dependent on the chain of the U.S. strategy. At America's behest, Japan not only began to rebuild diplomatic ties and resume bilateral trade with Thailand, but also solved the problem of "special yen" left over by the war. The Japanese capital was introduced into the Thai market, Japan therefore aquired the raw materials and vast markets needed urgently for its economic reconstruction. During the crisis of Laos and the Vietnam War, Thailand had been supporting U.S. military intervention in Indochina by taking part in joint actions with the United States. Thailand signed Joint Statement by Foreign Minister Thanat Khoman of Thailand and Secretary of State Dean Rusk of the United States of America and in this way established an alliance with the United States. It not only provided a base for the U.S. invasion of Vietnam, but also sent ground troops to Vietnam; Due to geographical location, Japan is far away from the war in Indochina. In additon, the post-war Japan focused on its economic development. The two factors caused Japan to pay more attention to its investment in Thailand and trade friction between the two countries. When the United States began to change its policies in Asia in the late 1960s, Thailand had had to adjust its "lean to one-side" foreign policy accordingly. In early 1970s, Japan trod on the heels of the United States to normalize relations with China; After the United States'withdrawal from Vietnam, Thailand adjusted its foreign policy and resumed diplomatic relations with China so as to improve relations with its neighbors. From then on, Thailand has got back on the road of its traditional flexible diplomacy. At that time, Japan-Thai relation entered a new era. Japan timely adjusted its foreign policy in Thailand and Southeast Asia and implemented "the Fukuda doctrine" in order to redefine its role in Southeast Asia. It developed extensive contacts with the ASEAN countries. Its policies in Southeast Asia began to move to the political arena, emphasizing the role of Japan in this area.This dissertation consists of introduction, conclusion and seven chapters, which are the history and development of Japan-Thai relations, the formation of the Cold War pattern in Asia and Japan-Thai resumption of diplomatic relations, Japan-Thai relations during the Vietnam War, Japan-Thai relations after the normalization of Sino-Japanese relations, Japan-Thai relations ater the Vietnam War, Japan-Thai relations during the post-Cold War period.