CHAPTER 4

ANALYSIS, INTERPRETATION, PRESENTATION

4.1 Introduction

This chapter presents a detailed presentation and discussion of the data collected from the

case study samples. The main source of our data is acquired through a case study methodology

where the researchers highlighted important key points that will be of use for our chosen

research topic. The findings gathered will be presented in relation to the research objectives

stated in the study. This chapter will be divided into 5 main sections namely: (1) Security Issues

in Japan towards China, (2) Japan’s Economic Relationship with China, (3)

4.2 Major Challenges Faced by Japan and South Korea in enforcing their foreign policies

to China

There are many possible and ongoing related concerns with regards to the implementation of

their foreign policies towards China. As for Japan, the nation has been at the forefront of security

issues and liability in the East Asian region considering from the mentioned statement above that

she was considered to be a “weird country” having strong military capabilities but weak in the

economy. Japan has found itself in an East Asia security environment with heightened tensions

for the last several years. For our second analysis we have found out that along with the concern

in security issues, one of the challenges in the implementation is putting at risk the Sino-Japanese

economic bilateral relationship.

4.2.1 Security Issues in Japan

The numerous flashpoints of the conflict in the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands between Japan

and China have raised security concerns in Japan. Japan's security issue focuses on

China's military buildup, including the North Korean crisis, where ties between Japan

and North Korea are reported to be deteriorating owing to fears over Pyongyang's

nuclear weapons development, where its only ally is known to be the country of China,

but the latter will be not be discussed further in this study. In relation to China, Japan has

often voiced its main security concern about China's rising military strength and the lack

of transparency in its defense budget and security policy decision-making process. Since

Japan happens to be a “weird country” which foretells that it has a strong economy, but

a weak military, the country has been dependent on the U.S. for its military concerns in

which its foreign policy of US-Defense Treaty is brought for application. As mentioned by

Tatsumi, Y. (2014), tensions have been arising in regards to the issue of territorial

dispute particularly following the September 2010 incident in which a Chinese fishing

trawler collided with a JGC. In addition, the course of action of purchasing the Japanese

government of the three of the five land features from a private landowner by Tokyo’s

nationalist governor, Shintaro Ishihara, was foreseen by China as an act of nationalism

thus violating the tenuous status quo, Beijing issued sharp objections.

As argued by Avery, E. et al. (2019), the U.S.-Japan alliance has long been standing as

the anchor of the U.S. security role in Asia and arguably a contributor to peace and

prosperity in the region. Despite having the constraints from their domestic concerns,

especially that the people of Japan believe that an alliance with the U.S. means a page

turn back to their history, it has been able to improve their alliance’s operational

capabilities as a combined force since the early 2000s. In addition, Japanese Prime

Minister Shinzo Abe is a stalwart supporter of the alliance and has had notable success
on his ambitious agenda to increase the capability and flexibility of Japan’s military

(Avery, E. et al, 2019). This foretells that the recent clash between a Chinese fishing

vessel and the Japanese coast guard in the Senkaku/Diaoyu Island demonstrates the

continuing conflict between Japan and China over territory and marine resources, one

that could affect the United States. With the US presence in the Asia Pacific region,

China is starting to build up its military, especially its navy to break through the first and

second island chains and push the United States out of the Asia Pacific.