| The Japan-American alliance,since the early postwar era,has been a mainstay in the Asia-Pacific security structure.The nature of the alliance,as well as the field of cooperation,has undergone a tortuous evolution in different historical periods.In this regard,a large number of researches concerning the evolution process of the Japan-American alliance both at home and abroad have been devoted to the policy studies and the overall historical development of the alliance,but with less emphasis on the in-depth analysis of such evolution within a short period of special development.On this basis,the present thesis,combing the historical facts with background development,holds that the essence of the Japan-American alliance,stripped from the external relationship,would yield illuminating insights for the effective study of the alliance evolution.Moreover,the limitation of time segments is a prerequisite for the logic of the alliance development in a particular period given the fact that the existing researches have not divided the evolution process of the Japan-American alliance in recent years.The present thesis,based on historical facts,delineates the important evolution process of the Japan-American alliance from 2009 to 2017 with the normal nationalization thought of Japan as the indirect clue,and points out that the relationship between Japan and America in this period has gone through three stages,which are alienation and drifting,repairing and transiting,as well as sustaining and strengthening.From the perspective of Japan,this thesis probes into the Japan-American alliance in a particular period and expounds the cause of the evolution process in light of the historical facts.Furthermore,taking Abe's second ruling in 2012 as a time node,an elaborate investigation is conducted against the background of the sharp change in the Asia-Pacific situation this year.Much attention from the aspect of the national interests of Japan has been paid to the systematic review of the historical development and characteristics of the Japan-American alliance.This thesis thereupon explores the evolutionary cause from multiple angles and highlights the analysis of the causes and consequences of the events,with an aim to provide a profound insight into the relationship between Japan and America within this period of time and its impact on the security structure in the Asia-Pacific region,which helps contribute to the more rigorous assessment of the future development trend of the Japan-American alliance.The present thesis are mainly composed of introduction,main body and conclusion.The introduction part inquires into the purposes and possible contributions of the study,the research methodology and content,as well as the previous studies both at home and abroad.In accordance with the historical facts,the first to the third chapter of this thesis,with specific cases,delves into the investigation and evaluation of the evolution process of the Japan-America alliance in different periods by taking the attitudes of the Japanese prime ministers towards the alliance and the development of decision-making as a direct clue to the alliance evolution during the time when America returned to the Asia-Pacific region.In addition,upon the historical facts and cause analysis,this thesis further brings forth the evaluation of internal differences and future tendencies of the Japan-America alliance.The first chapter provides a comprehensive and detailed overview of Yukio Hatoyama's ruling ideas,major foreign policies,and the issue of the relocation in Putian bases,and concludes that the alliance relationship enters into the drifting and alienation period owing to Yukio's concept of "fraternity" and the advocacy of the establishment of "East Asian community" etc.,which leads to the trust between Japan and America having gone astray.The pursuing chapter briefly analyzes the background of Naoto Kan's ruling,and introduces his ruling philosophy and foreign policies.On account of the importance of the Japan-America alliance to Japan's national security,political stability and economic prosperity,the Naoto Kan's cabinet has agreed to the internal and external policy of the "American Domination and Japan Submission".However,Naoto Kan did not deny Yukio's pursuit of "equal" relations between Japan and America,and fundamentally embraced the same ambition as Yukio in policy.Actually,despite the ease of the alliance relationship during this period,it has not been substantially restored.In the analysis of historical facts on Yoshihiko Noda's governing idea and foreign policy,this part maintains that Noda,keeping a pro-American stance in the Democratic Party,implements the principle of"American Domination and Japan Submission" and endeavors to strengthen the alliance relationship between Japan and America.During this period of time,confidence has been regained and the alliance has undertaken a significant restoration.The following chapter forms the kernel and bedrock of the study.As is planned,it first delves into the ruling and diplomatic concepts of Abe's cabinet.Then conclusions can be drawn that the Japan-American alliance has been improved unprecedentedly during Abe's administration.The "normal nationalization" strategy and "positive pacifism"principle in this period are the primary reasons why Abe actively promotes the alliance with America,while the change of Japanese and American interest,and the Asia-Pacific policy during Obama's second term provide the direct reasons.With aspect to the underlying reasons,the common threats give rise to several major changes Japan and America have experienced from Hatoyama Yukio's ruling to Abe's cabinet.The motivation of the changes can be roughly divided into two categories:the unbalanced development of the two countries' power and the unequal alliance between Japan and America.Combined with the alliance dilemma and threat balance theory,the fourth chapter,in view of the evolution of the international security situation,the change of the alliance interests and the overall development of the alliance,proposes that the main discrepancies between Japan and America are manifested in three aspects:firstly,Japan asserts that the United States has not provided any practical security protection;secondly,Japan unilaterally seeks to establish a reciprocal alliance;thirdly,the game of "control" and "anti-control" exists in the framework of the Japan-American alliance,which help to assess the reconstruction of the responsibility share of the alliance in the future,balance the security and economic strategies in the alliance cooperation mechanism,and organically integrate of the bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region,and the whole globe at large. |
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