Japan's Policy Towards East and Southeast Asia

In recent years Japan's definition of Asia has been undergoing a significant change. So farfor Japan, Asia meant mainly China, the two Koreas and the Southeast Asian countriesAfter the events of 11 September, the US invasion of Afghanistan, the war in Iraq, the massivanti-Japan movement in China and South Korea and other developments Japan was impelleto strengthen its relations with other Asian countries which so far had been on the peripherof its Asia policy. In addition to this, Japan's Asia policy to a great extent is also guided bthe rising stature of China, although changes in Japan's policy towards Asian countries ialso often influenced by the changes in its relations with the US. While Japan realizes tharelations with the US form the cornerstone of its foreign policy, it still makes attempts tconvince both the US and China that it wants to play a prominent and independent role iAsia. Changes in Japan's Asia policy are also based on the realization of the fact that tcounter its delicate relations with China and South Korea, it must play an important politicarole in the region and that its Asia policy must factor the growing influence of other countrielike India rather than focussing on just China, the two Koreas and Southeast Asian countries