A Study Of The Effects Of U.S.-Japan Security Alliance On Their Trade In Post War Era

The U.S-Japan relation has been the one of the most important bilateral relations in the world since the end of WWII. The stable security alliance established by two countries exerts a significant influence on strategic pattern of Asia- Pacific region, and at the same time the U.S.-Japan trade relation has been close to the global economy. Based on the principle of the effects of international politics on international economy in the IPE, the thesis discusses the role of U.S.-Japan Security Alliance in U.S.-Japan Trade after WWII in order to understand deeply the international relation theory and U.S.-Japan relation.An examination of the U.S-Japan relation after WWII reveals that the security alliance established in early 1950s promoted the trade between U.S. and Japan, mitigated the trade frictions, and ensured the trade disputes not to develop into severe economic conflicts that impinge the security strategy of the two countries.In early time after WWII, the United States set up the security alliance that developed the trade with Japan and increased Japan's power and enlarged American influence on Japan for the need of containment of enlargement of Soviet Union and impingement of communism ideology to the western world and maintenance of American hegemony in the world system. Japan, a small power and dependant power, could develop itself by neo-mercantilism in the Pax Americana.With the increase of Japan's economy power, the trade friction with U.S., a great power, would produce negative effects on original security system. But the both sides consolidated the security alliance in common security interest, as a result, the trade frictions will become few.From the mid of 1990s, future benefits became more important in policy-making in U.S. and Japan. Both U.S. and Japan wanted to strengthen their military and economy power in Asia-Pacific area by their cooperation. The specific trade issues disjointed with security alliance, then the U.S.-Japan trade turned better, and security alliance was consolidated.Based on the analysis of the role of security alliance in the U.S.-Japan trade, we can draw the conclusion that whether in the cold war or post cold war era, military security is core nation-state focus in the international politics. The development of trade should be defined by the national security. If the trade friction emerges, the both sides need good communication to ensure the friction not render threat to national security.Finally, the thesis concludes that U.S and Japan will continue to seek the cooperation and competition in security and trade, and there will not be severe political and economic conflicts. China should be on the alert to U.S.-Japan security alliance's threat to its national security and keep the communication about security with U.S. and Japan. China also should be active in the communication about trade with the two countries lest excessive trade frictions do harm to China's national security.