CONFLICT AND COOPERATION IN THE NORTH PACIFIC: THE EMERGING DIMENSIONS (JAPAN, KOREA, CHINA, CANADA, UNITED STATES, SOVIET UNION)

The purpose of this research is to identify and examine developing patterns of conflict and cooperation within the North Pacific region and explore some of the implications of the future inter-relationships of the region. The definition of the North Pacific in this study is limited to the main subregions of (a) Northeast Asia (Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China) and (b) North America (the United States and Canada). And the Soviet Union is included because of its important role in the regional politics.;In the interdependence model, basic assumptions are: high, positive, and symmetrical interdependence is likely to turn into cooperation; negative-asymmetrical interdependence is likely come to conflict; positive-asymmetrical or negative-symmetrical interdependence is likely to lead to conflict and cooperation. Geographical factors affect a state's foreign policy orientation which leading to international conflict and cooperation. Especially, the resource variable is focused upon in this study.;In a case of positive-symmetrical economic interdependence, Sino-U.S. economic cooperation was exemplified and U.S.-Japan trade conflict was applied to a case of positive-asymmetrical interdependence. In a negative-symmetrical, politico-strategic interdependence, the US-USSR-PRC strategic triangular relationship was examined and the US-Japan-ROK alliance relationship was applied to a case of positive-asymmetrical interdependence.;In studying resources politics in the ocean, the cases of offshore oil and gas in the Bering Sea, the Gulf of Po Hai, the Yellow Sea, and the East China Sea were examined. Also, the cases of fisheries in the ocean were discussed. Territorial disputes between PRC and USSR, Japan and USSR, Japan and ROK, and PRC and DPRK were presented. The disputed Shenkaku Islands was also discussed.;The main questions are: (1) What constitute the patterns of conflict and cooperation in the region?; (2) Why and how have these patterns occurred?; (3) What are the implications of these patterns in future? To this end, a contextual framework was found useful by employing concepts of interdependence and political geography.;In the final chapter, the author concluded that the North Pacfic is emerging as an arena of conflict and cooperation and predicted that the politics of the North Pacific will be more important in international relations.