U.S.-Japan national interests : necessity and implications

• Main Author: Kim, Yong-Beom.
• Other Authors: Olsen, Edward A.
• Language: en_US
• Published: Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School 2013
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10945/32658

Why is the U.S.-Japan relationship important? This research question is the starting point of the thesis. In relations between nations, national interests play a key role. Within these interests this thesis analyzes both shared benefits and areas of conflict. A number of issues are addressed. The national interests are defined. The factors that influence the formulation of the national interests are suggested. The benefits or interests for each country are examined by the three major dimensions, namely the political, economic, and military aspects. The United States has a major stake in Japan: retaining support for U.S. policy, maintaining an economic partner, and continuing a forward deployment strategy. Japan's stake in the U.S. includes: support for Japan's policy, a trading partner, and security assistance. Even though both nations have common national interests, there are also issues, which create frictions: the legacy of the Pacific War, racial differences, trade issues, and the changing world order. In this context, both nations will exert efforts to maximize their own national interests. In this process, cooperation or conflict may emerge. The U.S.-Japan relationship will have an impact on these various dimensions. Thus, a close analysis of the relationship is significant in national security studies.