ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the political implications of U.S.–Soviet-China-Japan interactions as they relate to U.S.–Japan security relations. First, it discusses the political impact of the rapid development in Washington-Beijing diplomatic relations on Tokyo. Second, it explores the combined political effect of the February 1972 Sino-U.S. summit and the September 1972 Sino-Japanese summit, which led to the formulation of the Washington-Beijing-Tokyo strategic triangle against Moscow. Third, it examines how the Japan Defense Agency (JDA) responded to regionally and globally easing tensions and conceptualized Japan’s defense policy. Particularly, this chapter makes a detailed assessment of the concept of the “Fundamental Defense Capability,” advocated by senior JDA official Takuya Kubo, who sought to find the middle ground between external security requirements and internal political and economic restraints. Fourth, it analyzes how the National Security Council (NSC) interdepartmental group continued to assess the enhancement of Japan’s conventional defense capability. The final two sections discuss how the increased interactions between the U.S., the U.S.S.R., China, and Japan promoted more discussion regarding burdensharing in U.S.–Japan security arrangements.
