The Transformation Of Japan’s Seapower Strategy After The Cold War

Japan is a island country, located in the Eurasia outer area and the first island chain of the northern. Japan is the only country since modern times won the regional sea power in Asian region and the process of its sea power strategy implementation is also the development of Japan’s rising. At Modern times, Japan successfully realizes the transformation of the Marine strategy from the traditional "coast defense" strategy to offensive "sea power" strategy. The expansion of the Japanese modern sea power made a great significant influence to the international pattern, making surrounding neighbors suffered serious ravage. After the Second World War, Japan once adopted a "defensive" sea power strategy. But with Japan’s strength enhancement and international Marine situation’s change, its sea power strategy become more and more expanding. Because of the development trend of Japan’s sea power strategy, the reinforcement of the Japan-American Alliance and Japan’s negative attitude to the aggressive history of World War ii, China, being the neighbors of Japan, must be alert to Japan’s action. There is historical blood feud and realistic ocean rights dispute between China and Japan, and more importantly the two country’s international position has a structural change. Strengthening the study of Japan’s sea power strategy has a great significance to make China’s own sea power strategy and maintain the Asia-Pacific region peaceful, secure and stable.Japan’s sea power strategy is the major point of this paper. In this article, I give more attention to the reasons of the transformation of Japan’s sea power strategy and specific performance of Japan’s modern sea power strategy. Before discussing Japan’s modern sea power strategy, this paper make a detailed analysis of the modern sea power firstly and points out the theory of sea power becomes more rich, letting a hundred schools of thought contend in the modern period. But in the21st century sea power have a new connotation; show the unique characteristics of the times:(ⅰ) The value structure of modern sea power present diversity. It is not only the thoroughfare of connecting outside but also "treasure house" of resources,(ⅱ) The control target of sea power becomes diversity. The target contesting for between countries from overseas colonies and sphere of influence to controlling the interests sea area.(ⅲ) The means and way to get the sea power become diversified, including not only traditional military means, economic, diplomatic and legal means becoming more prominent,(ⅳ) Ocean strategy and sea power strategy gradually become convergent. At the same time, this paper also provides basic frame of theory analysis about the transformation of sea power strategy. It demonstrates the reasons of transformation of sea power strategy through hierarchical analysis method of neoclassical realism.Japan’s modern sea power strategy is influenced deeply by history. Through this article we know Japan progressively expands its sea power, and its goal is to get the dominant position of East Asia Ocean again. Along with the new changes of international marine situation, especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ratified, more and more country try to contest for the sea interests. Japan is one of the most active participants. At the same time, Japan faces pressure of oceanic territorial disputes from nearby nations. Also Japan geographical attribute is vulnerable and domestic politics become conservative. Above the elements contribute to the expansion impulse of Japan. For this reason, Japan has made various efforts in Marine economic, military, legal and diplomatic fields. Firstly, in economic aspect Japan makes hard to exploit marine resources. Secondly, on the one hand Japan tries to strengthen the Japan-American sea power alliance; on the other hand reinforce autonomous defense force. Thirdly, Japan constructs a perfect legal system of the ocean. Lastly, through the ocean diplomacy Japan makes great efforts to construct "Marine alliance".The transformation of Japan’s sea power strategy has a great influence on international pattern of the Asia Pacific Region, breaks original balance of power and increases the marine arm races among nations. More importantly, Japan’s aggressive modern sea power strategy brings China a huge challenge. It increases China’s maritime safety pressure, makes China faces the more complicate ocean disputes and the relationship between mainland and Taiwan become instable. Facing the challenge, China should be more active to develop its own sea power. In order to construct China’s sea power we must develop modern ocean consciousness, actively expand marine diplomacy, Speed up the construction of the blue water navy, deeply prosper marine economy and strive to construct ocean legal system.