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Documents

A New Path for Japan By Yukio Hatoyama
(New York Times, Aug. 27, 2009) Yukio Hatoyama heads the Democratic Party of Japan, and would become prime minister should the party win in Sunday’s elections.

 

Government and Policy 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs very useful site

Foreign Policy Page Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs

House of Councilors (National Diet of Japan, Sangi-in)

House of Representatives (National Diet of Japan, Shugi-in)

The Constitution of Japan English translated version

Japan-China Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan

Overview - Japan-ASEAN Relations

Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations Japan's position on issues, Japan's Policy and Press Releases

 

Information and Research

NIRA (National Institute for Research Advancement, Japan)

Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA)

Japanese Journal Information Web

The National Security-Archive U.S.-Japan Project Papers on diplomatic, security, and economic relations between the U.S. and Japan

Japan Center for International Exchange (A nonprofit and non-governmental institution, Japan)

Japan Policy Research Institute (JPRI) U.S.-Japan relationship and its implications for the Pacific Rim

Japan Economic Institute of America (JEI) information on Japanese economy, politics, foreign policy and U.S.-Japan relations

Kyodo News Web

Japan Times

 

Taiwan Claims Disputed Islets in Japan, US Drill
(AFP, Aug. 20, 2010) Taiwan stressed its claim to a disputed island chain, reacting to reports of a planned joint naval exercise between Japan and the United States in nearby waters.

Taiwan Vigilant in Face of China’s Military Buildup: Ma
(CNA, Aug. 19, 2010) President Ma Ying-jeou stressed the importance of the Japan-U.S. security treaty signed in 1960, saying that it has since formed the bedrock of peace and stability in East Asia, during an interview with Sankei Shimbun.

Security Pact Covers Tiaoyutas: US State Department Official
(CNA, Aug. 18, 2010) A U.S. Department of State official said that the Japan-U.S. security pact still applies to the Senkaku Islands even if the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama has not stated so explicitly.

Japan’s Cabinet Shuns Shrine on Anniversary of War’s End
(New York Tiems, Aug. 16, 2010) Angering his nation’s conservatives, Japan’s left-leaning new prime minister marked the 65th anniversary of the end of World War II by shunning a religious shrine linked to Japan’s militaristic past.

Taiwanese Boat Seized by Japan for Fishing EEZ
(Taipei Times, Aug. 11, 2010) A Taiwanese fishing boat was detained by Japanese authorities for fishing in its Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ) but will soon be released after it agreed to pay a fine, an official said.

Japan Panel Moots Major Defense Policy Shift
(AFP, Jul. 26, 2010) A government panel will recommend that Japan relax longstanding defense guidelines to prepare for "contingencies" in the Korean Peninsula and Taiwan Strait, reports said.

Ministry Concerned about Japanese Deployment Plan
(Taipei Times, Jul. 23, 2010) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had voiced its concerns to Tokyo after reports that Japan planned to deploy Japan Self-Defense Forces personnel on two islands off Okinawa.

Japan Extends ADIZ into Taiwan Space
(Taipei Times, Jun. 26, 2010) Japan has extended its Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) so that it now overlaps with sections of a zone controlled by Taiwan.

China, Japan Launch Prime Ministerial Hotline
(Xinhua, Jun. 13, 2010) Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan held a telephone conversation, marking the official activation of the China-Japan prime ministerial hotline.

Japanese Leader Tells Obama He’ll Work to Fulfill Base Pact
(New York Times, Jun. 7, 2010) Japan’s new prime minister, Naoto Kan, told President Obama on Sunday that he would work to fulfill an agreement to relocate an American air base.

U.S. and Japan Reach Okinawa Deal
(New York Times, May 28, 2010) Japan and the United States issued a statement saying an American air base on Okinawa would be relocated to a new site on the island, moving to officially end a dispute between the allies.

Japan’s Air Defense Identification Zone Request Confirmed
(CNA, May 27, 2010) MOFA has been notified by Japan about a request to re-draw the Air Defense Identification Zone over Japan's Yonaguni lsland just to the east of Taiwan.

Foreign Ministry to Clear Up Taiwan Status to Japan
(Taipei Times, May 21, 2010) Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs David Lin said that the ministry would instruct its office in Japan to declare the government’s position on the status of the country to the Japanese government following a recent statement by a Japanese government official.

Taiwan and Japan Sign Bilateral Relations MOU
(Taipei Times, May 1, 2010) Taiwan and Japan yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the enhancement of exchanges and cooperation to further bilateral collaboration in 15 areas.

Taiwan Protests Japanese Plan to Mine Metals Near Disputed Islands (DPA, Apr. 27, 2010) Taiwan complained to Japan over Tokyo's plan to search for rare metals near the Diaoyu Islands, which are claimed by China, Taiwan and Japan, officials said.

Japan: Protest Over Chinese Helicopter
(Reuters, Apr. 21, 2010) Japanese officials lodged a protest with Beijing over a Chinese helicopter they say flew too close to a Japanese destroyer in the waters off Okinawa, the Foreign Ministry said.

President Ma Will Meet with Visiting Ex-Japanese PM Aso
(China Post, Apr. 6, 2010) President Ma Ying-jeou will meet privately with former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, who arrived in Taiwan on a four-day private visit, political sources said.

Japan Offers New Plan in Okinawa Dispute
(New York Times, Mar. 4, 2010) The Japanese government has approached United States officials with a new proposal for resolving a festering dispute over an American air base in Okinawa, the Japanese news media reported.

Japan May Take China to Tribunal Over East China Sea Gas Field
(Bloomberg, Feb. 22, 2010) Japan may take a dispute with China over developing a natural gas field in the East China Sea to an international maritime tribunal, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano said.

Ma Meets Japan Envoy, Calls for FTA
(Taipei Times, Feb. 5, 2010) President Ma Ying-jeou met the new Japanese representative to Taiwan, Tadashi Imai, and expressed the hope that Taipei and Tokyo could sign a free-trade agreement (FTA).

New Joint Study Fails to Bridge Divide between Japan and China on Nanjing (AFP, Feb. 1, 2010) Japanese and Chinese academics published the results of a three-year joint study that showed they could not resolve differences on controversial modern events including the 1937 Nanjing Massacre.

Japan, U.S. Vow to Expand Ties Despite Base Feud
(Reuters, Jan. 19, 2010) They will work with China and also jointly deal with North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, the two countries' foreign and defense ministers said in a statement to mark the 50th anniversary of the U.S.-Japan security treaty.

Japan Threatens Action on China Gas Project: Report
(Reuters, Jan. 17, 2010) Japan warned China that it would take action if Beijing starts gas production in a disputed field in the East China Sea, Japan's Kyodo news agency reported.

Japan Leader Wants More Equal Ties with U.S.
(AP, Jan. 4, 2010) Japan's prime minister said he will press for more equal ties with Washington this year, the 50th anniversary of a joint security treaty that grants many special privileges to U.S. troops stationed in the country.

 

Japan Is Alone Over Yen By Michael Casey
(Wall Street Journal, Aug. 13, 2010) The chances of any joint intervention by the Bank of Japan and the Federal Reserve this time are highly remote. Why? Because the Japan-U.S. trading relationship is nowhere near as important as the U.S.-China relationship.

Time for Leadership for the US-Japan Relationship By Sheila A. Smith (PacNet #35, Jul. 29, 2010) Together, the US president and the Japanese prime minister should also remind their publics that we can resolve our differences with respect and with conviction, and if necessary – correct our mistakes.

The Japanese Archipelago through Chinese Eyes By Toshi Yoshihara and James Holmes (China Brief 10(16), Jamestown Foundation, Aug. 5, 2010) To Chinese thinkers of neo-Mahanian leanings, naval power is a blunt instrument of statecraft that Beijing appears to be brandishing with increased frequency. Such strategists appear to attach vast importance to managing affairs along the Asian seaboard—particularly the Japanese archipelago.

Japan Takes a Shot at China- via Taiwan By Jens Kastner and Wang Jyh-Perng (Asia Times, Jul. 7, 2010) A look out of the box of Taiwan's partisan politics reveals that Japan isn't short of motives to step up its military presence in the East China Sea other than to react to the KMT's pro-China course.

Ties to U.S. Played Role in Downfall of Japanese Leader By Martin Fackler and Mark Lander (New York Times, Jun. 3, 2010) When Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama of Japan abruptly stepped down, he was essentially admitting he had not won popular support for a prominent campaign pledge: ending Japan’s postwar dependence on the United States for its security.

Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama Resigns By Blaine Harden (Washington Post, Jun. 2, 2010) Having squandered a historic electoral mandate in nine months, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama resigned Wednesday.

Japan Relents on U.S. Base on Okinawa By Martin Fackler
(New York Times, May 24, 2010) Reneging on a prominent campaign promise, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama told outraged residents of Okinawa that an American air base would be moved only to the north side of the island rather than off the island.

Deal Seems Near on U.S. Base in Japan By Martin Fackler
(New York Times, May 21, 2010) Major Japanese newspapers reported that Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has decided to largely accept Washington’s demands that he honor an existing agreement to relocate an American air base on Okinawa.

Japanese Leader Backtracks on Revising Base Agreement By Martin Fackler and Hiroko Tabuchi (New York Times, May 5, 2010) Backtracking on a prominent campaign pledge, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama told angry residents of Okinawa that it was unrealistic to expect the United States to move its entire Marine Corps air base off the island.

Breaking Point for the Alliance? By Brad Glosserman
(PacNet #19, Pacific Forum, CSIS, Apr. 12, 2010) The real risk is from the US: It looks like the new Japanese government is taking the alliance for granted and that could trigger a backlash.

Japan Moves to Settle Dispute with U.S. Over Okinawa Base Relocation By John Pomfret (Washington Post, Apr. 24, 2010) The Japanese government indicated that it would broadly accept a plan to relocate a U.S. Marine Corps base on Okinawa, a move that could ease months of discord between the two allies, U.S. and Japanese, officials said.

Okinawa and Security in East Asia By Richard C. Bush III
(Brookings, Apr. 16, 2010) Richard Bush discussed the impact of Japan’s recent political changes on the U.S.-Japan alliance and base realignment in Okinawa, and how the alliance and Okinawa are important to security in East Asia as a whole, not just Japan and the U.S.

U.S. Reaches Out to Tokyo’s Real Power By Martin Fackler
(New York Times, Mar. 8, 2010) At a time of turmoil in Washington’s ties with Tokyo, American officials are reaching out directly to that power behind the throne.

A 21st Century Vision for the Alliance By Yoichi Funabashi
(PacNet #7, Pacific Forum, CSIS, Feb. 18, 2010) In redefining the Japan-US alliance for the challenges posed by this century, the pact needs to evolve from being “against” something to one that is “for” something.

Will Japan Emerge from Its Shell?—Part II By Daniel Sneider
(YaleGlobal, Feb. 5, 2010) Japan’s new tack not only has caught the US flat-footed, but also has other countries in the Asia Pacific worried. Most importantly, Tokyo seems to be making uncharacteristically friendly overtures to Beijing. But it would be wrong to assume that Sino-Japan relations are really much improved.

Transatlantic, Meet Pacific: China’s Bold Stance at Munich Security Conference By Robert Marquand (Christian Science Monitor, Feb. 5, 2010) In front of 300 diplomats, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said the US was violating international law by a proposed arms sale to Taiwan, and defended Chinese TV and radio as more reliable than Western media.

Economic Realities Limit Japan’s Security Options By Robert Madsen and Brad Glosserman (PacNet #2, Pacific Forum, CSIS, Jan. 19, 2010) The Hatoyama government’s desire to “rebalance” Japan’s foreign policy have triggered alarms and raised fears of a rupture, but those fears are misplaced.

In Japan, U.S. Losing Diplomatic Ground to China By Martin Fackler
(New York Times, Jan. 24, 2010) American experts say the Obama administration has been slow to realize the extent of the change in Japan’s thinking about its traditional protector and its traditional rival.

Has the Obama Administration Been Too Tough on Japan?
(Editorial, Washington Post, Jan. 5, 2010) Japan's nascent two-party system is a democratic achievement, not a diplomatic nuisance; give it a little time to find its course.