ABSTRACT
This chapter addresses the following two research questions: (1) How have the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands issues affected Japan’s security policies? (2) What is a possible way to solve or deal effectively with the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands dispute? This chapter seeks to answer these questions in the context of the US—Japan relationship. Continuing tensions over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands led the Japanese public to accept more proactive security policies and allowed the Japanese government to enact and implement a series of security-related laws and measures and solidify the US diplomatic and military commitment to the Asia-Pacific region. However, Prime Minister Abe is not just a nationalist ideologue but also a shrewd and pragmatic politician seeking to minimize Japan’s military contribution while emphasizing its peace-building contribution. Japan may be the biggest winner of the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands dispute. This chapter suggests four possible ways to deal effectively with the dispute.
