Research On Japanese Sea Power Thought In Modern Times

The dissertation studies Japan's view of sea power, which includes (1) theunderstanding of sea power by Japanese thinkers, strategists and statesmen, especiallytheir recognition of how to develop the Japanese sea power; and (2) the thinking andlogic of Japan in expanding its sea power.Since Mahan, an American military strategist, proposed the concept of sea powerin late19thcentury, pursing sea power has gradually become the strategic aim and thepoint of departure for seaside powers in conducting their maritime activities. Japan asan island country has been deeply influenced by Mahan's view of sea power. Sincethe late19thcentury, sea power has become indispensable to Japan. However, researchon the Japan's view of sea power is rather insufficient. Therefore, the thesis tries toorganize and map out the evolutionary pattern of Japan's view of sea power byconducting a stage-based analysis. To do so, the thesis first tries to analyze the basiswhere Japan's view of sea power comes from, including the physicality of itsgeographical environment and the ideology of its strategic culture. Regardinggeography, Japan has what it naturally takes to pursue sea power. Concerning strategicculture, Japan's inherent Bushido spirit and expansionist tradition serve as theideological basis to develop sea power. Second, the thesis divides the period from thelate18thuntil now into three stages. While considering Japan's understanding andconstruction of its identity of a sea power as the premise, the thesis illustrates Japan'sview of sea power or the logic behind it in Japan's maritime activities in each stage. Inthe first stage between the late18thcentury and the1940s, Japan had a relativelycomplete view of sea power and a strong expansionist nature could be identified in itssea power practice. In the second stage between1940s and the end of the Cold War,the focus of Japan's view of sea power shifted from the military area to the economicarena while militarily Japan completed the transformation from expansion to defense.Analysis of this stage also finds that the sea power view in this period was notcomplete, but Japan still had the potential and awareness to develop sea power. In thethird stage from the end of the Cold War to now, Japan's view of sea power has become increasingly complete and begun to re-exhibit an expansionist nature in a newpattern featured by alliance-seeking. It is essentially about striving for its own seapower development through the so-called “sea power alliance”.For more than100years, pursuing sea power has been Japan's importantstrategic aim. Japan's view of sea power has always been in service for its nationalstrategy. There have been changes in Japan's national strategy, but the history of morethan100years tells us that the maritime expansionist activities guided by its seapower view has exerted extremely negative impact on China, which is detrimental toand even impeding China's maritime development and national development. A realistanalysis shows that both China and Japan have a strong subjective will to develop seapower and have what is objectively required to develop it. However, theirgeographical proximity has brought uncertainties to their respective endeavor indeveloping sea power. Therefore, both countries in particular Japan should abandonthe traditional confrontational geo-political ideology, replace it with a cooperative oneand dissolve the structural constraints so that the two countries can recognize theirgeographical role and position correctly, thus contributing to a positive developmentof bilateral relations.