ABSTRACT
This chapter overviews the post-WWII Japan's policy toward Taiwan. It discusses the factors that influences Tokyo's decision making in the event of a cross-strait conflict, and assess the relative possibility of each option. After the end of WWII, Taiwan was returned to Chinese sovereignty, and Japan was under American occupation. Before long, two wars changed East Asia's political landscape. As prime minister most of the time from 1946 to 1954, Yoshida Shigeru laid the foundation for post-WWII Japan's foreign policy. Buck-passing characterized Japan's Taiwan policy for about half a century after the end of WWII. This policy can be attributed to Japan's pre-WWII imperialism and to the bipolar system during Cold War. The balancing policy can find justification in Japan's relations with Taiwan, China, and US Taiwan is important to Japan. When Washington used Beijing to balance Moscow in late 1970s, Tokyo went further by including an "anti-hegemony" clause in 1978 Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Japan and China.
