ABSTRACT
This chapter sheds light on how, during the 1950s and 1960s, Southeast Asia became an important component of Japan’s efforts to rebuild both its postwar economy and relations with Asia. The conclusion of reparations agreements with Southeast Asian nations for the damages inflicted by Japan during the Pacific War contributed to both the process of Japan’s reconciliation with these countries and to the gradual expansion of trade with them. The threat of a spread of communist influence in Southeast Asia fostered Japan’s efforts to promote the economic development of the countries of this region in order to increase both their stability (and to minimize the risk that they might end up under the influence of Communist China) and their value as commercial partners. These objectives fitted well with US Cold War strategy in Asia. The Vietnam War deepened regional instability, thereby challenging Japanese interests in Southeast Asia by mean of a possible expansion of communist influence. Despite this conflict being a highly sensitive issue in Japan, Tokyo made attempts to create the conditions for restoring peace, albeit unsuccessfully.
