book review

Toward a More Amicable Asia-Pacific Region, Japan’s Roles

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By Tom French

The "rise of China" narrative, a constellation of territorial disputes, and the perennial incidence of North Korean nuclear bluster cause many to view the Asia Pacific as a region rife with political tension and potentially bound for conflict. For many of those who ascribe to this position historical legacies and contemporary power dynamics combine to increase tension and there seem to be few avenues available potentially leading to a more amicable form of regional politics. In addressing this issue, professor Yoneyuki Sugita of Osaka University aims in his latest edited volume to guide the reader in an exploration of some of these possible paths to a friendlier, more peaceful, region.

Released this year, the content of "Toward a More Amicable Asia-Pacific Region, Japan’s Roles," is based upon a series of international symposiums hosted by Sugita over the last few years. The content of the chapters reflects the varied interests of Sugita and the participants in these seminars, including both historical and contemporary topics, and spanning both Asian and European relations with Japan.

The first chapter of the book, written by Sugita himself, focuses on U.S.-Japan relations. Offering both theoretical and empirical insights into the relationship, Sugita argues that, in contrast to the ideas and predictions of some, the post Cold War era has actually seen an improvement of U.S.-Japan ties, due to the maintenance of a dynamic in East Asia similar to that of the preceding East-West struggle.

This chapter is followed by an analysis of identity and gender in historical perspective within the critical early postwar period by Professor Miyuki Daimaruya. Prof Daimaruya argues that the participation of both male and female Japanese-Americans in the Korean War proved useful for U.S. propaganda purposes during that conflict through projecting images of American racial equality and benevolence, to the region.

Shifting to a more contemporary focus, the next chapter by Professor Victor Theo presents a thought-provoking analysis of Sino-Japanese ties, in which he suggests that closer co-operation with China and viewing U.S. presence in the region as more of a hindrance than a help might benefit Japan’s relations with its larger neighbor in the future.

Professor Reinhard Drifte then looks at perhaps the most fractious contemporary issue in Sino-Japanese relations, that of the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands dispute. Drifte proposes that the tension arising from this dispute can be minimised in the future through a new agreement to "shelve" the dispute, the introduction of confidence and security building measures, the joint exploration of marine resources, the internationalization of the dispute, and even potential shared sovereignty over the islands.

The unique role of Australia in the region is examined by Professor David Watson, who suggests that despite deepening security ties with Japan, the economic importance of trade with China will mean Australia will likely adopt a hedging approach to regional affairs for the foreseeable future.

The penultimate chapter consists of a survey of the role of norms on the politics of the region in which Professor Emilian Kavalski examines whether the influence and the existence of "normative powers" might offer a path towards a more amicable region, and compares the normative influence of Europe, China and Japan in the process.

In the final chapter, Professor Bart Gaens continues the examination of European influence in the region through exploring the potential, and potential limits, of greater links between the European Union and Asia Pacific through looking at the development and evolution of the "Asia-Europe Meeting" summit.

Sugita’s book presents many original and thought provoking new perspectives, as well as some genuinely interesting and potentially realizable routes towards improving peaceful and friendly co-existence in a region, which, despite free flowing economic links, is seen by many as having rocky political relations.

"Toward a More Amicable Asia-Pacific Region, Japan’s Roles." Edited by Yoneyuki Sugita.

Lanham: University Press of America. V+151.

Thomas French is Associate Professor of Modern Japanese History at the College of International Relations, Ritsumeikan University.

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In 1983, Professor Suzuki told me in Paris that Japan was more interested in Europe than China. Three decades later, two other Japanese scholars advocated the so-called "friendlier ties" with China. I'm afraid that the bellicose Chinese will have the final voice. Watch out. Pope Francisco might be right in declaring that the world is at war. Chinh Dao

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