Japanese Remilitarization: Containing the Samurai
Abstract
For the past four decades, the bilateral US-Japan relationship has been the bedrock of security and stability in the Asia-Pacific region (APR). Moreover, this relationship, along with other bilateral agreements throughout the APR, has stood as one of the premier pillars for United States national security policy in the postwar period. Though many would argue that Europe was the primary battle ground of the Cold War, Asia certainly ranks, in some ways, as an equal partner. Regarding US containment policies, Korea and Vietnam are stark testimony of that national security strategy. Our bilateral treaty commitments throughout the APR have provided a security framework to counterbalance the threat of Soviet global expansionism. Without a doubt, Japan has been the cornerstone of those security commitments and has remained the primary focus of US national security strategy in the APR, today. For the most part, the US-Japan relationship has been one of the true success stories of the bipolar world order. Yet, now, almost revolutionary in nature, the bipolar world order seems to have suddenly disappeared. A democratic transformation in Eastern Europe and the subsequent demise of the Warsaw Pact has occurred. Where there had been little to no hope, there are now signs of rapprochement between North and South Korea. Also, though Tiananmen Square continues to weigh heavily in the minds of many, China is again showing positive trends and, with the passing
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 25, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA440527
Entities
People
- Bill Heitzig
Organizations
- National War College