Study On Japan’s ASEAN Regional Forum Policy From1994to2001

ASEAN Regional Forum is the only official multilateral political and securitydialogue in Asia-Pacific Region. It was created not only for Japan`s policy adjustments,but also bring good returns(embody in the comfort of ASEAN and solve regionalproblems, etc.). This paper attempts to analysis Japan`s ASEAN Regional ForumPolicy from1994to2001,find out Japan’s national security policy and its attitudetowards multilateralism and the worth of our learning and reference.The paper consists of three parts:the introduction,the text and the conclusion.Thetext is divided into three chapters:Chapter2discusses the establishment,the development of ASEAN RegionalForum, and the United States, China,Japan`s attitude to the foundation of ARF,especially stress on Japan`s security policy after the cold war and its role in theestablishment of ARF.Chapter3examines Japan`s actual activities in the ASEAN Regional Forum from1994to2001,mainly discusses on Japan`s policy in the Confidence building measuresstage.Firstly, the author elaborates Japan`s role in the ARF for entering the confidence-building measures stage. In the early of ARF`s foundation,there was a dispute onwhether to adopt confidence-building measures.In order to solve it,Japan put forward aseries of suggestions to mutually assured measures. In its proposal, Japan basicallystressed on the ARF members exchange of information content,never touched themandatory measures.What`s more,Japan also took ASEAN`s feeling intoconsideration,the proposal did not weaken ASEAN`s dominant role in the ARF.Thissuggestion made the parties in dispute basically satisfactory and effectively promotedthe development of ARF. Secondly, the author points out in the development ofconfidence-building measures Japan`s policy showed apparently level sex and lopsidedsex.from1994to1997, Japan believed the development of CBMs not only maintainedits national security,but also improved the relations between the major powers.Therefore,Japan was satisfied with the development of ARF and confidence measureestablishment.However,from1998to2001, Japan`s diplomatic activities in advancing ARF confidence-building measures were almost to end in failure.From promoteddiscussion of India-Pakistan nuclear test, the North Korean missile test and the SouthChina Sea area situation to North Korea joined the ARF,Japan’s proposal hadn`t beenfully supported and implemented. Moreover,in the face of crisis of Southeast Asiabanking crisis and East Timor regional event,Japan was very disappointed with ARF`ssilence.After the experience of the confidence-building measures development,Japan`sattitude changed from active supported to negatived,from the previous pessimisticoptimistic expectations into reality.Chapter4examines the trend of Japan’s ASEAN Regional Forum policydevelopment and this trend for China’s national security impact.After the unsuccessfulexperience of confidence building measures,Japan`s ARF policy undertook newadjustment. It mainly includes the redefinition of the Japan-US alliance,develops itsmilitary power,conducts active military diplomacy, and obtains economic power statuscommensurate with the military strength.Japan`s adjustment has produced importantinfluence on the security of our country.It not only affects Chinese marine rights andinterests,impacts China on solving the Taiwan issue,but also causes the balance ofEast-Asia Strategic Forces.In the face of Japan’s ARF development,we must takepositive and policy response to promote Sino-Japanese relations on the gooddevelopment road.