부산대학교 도서관

The growing rivalry between the United States and China and the strongman leadership are two of the major trends in international affairs. This article aims to analyze Japan’s strategic calculations, particularly since the inauguration of President Donald Trump, and also to conceptualize characteristics of Japan’s current diplomacy. The analytical focus is put on domestic and international factors the Abe administration has highly regarded. The second section explains how Abe came back to Prime Minister’s office in December 2012, who politically supports Abe, and internal conditions that form what the Abe administration ultimately pursues. The third section analyzes three important conditions surrounding Japan and how the Japanese leadership interprets those dynamics to accomplish its ultimate goal. The fourth section provides theoretical debates and a conceptual understanding of Japan’s current diplomacy. The analysis concludes that Japan’s current diplomacy resembles Judo, a Japanese traditional martial art; Abe and Japan now seem to use the external conditions as opportunities to create logics to support the country’s real reform, which is normalization of the Japanese state through amendment of Peace Constitution. Lastly, the article concludes that the current friction between South Korea and Japan is not desirable for the sake of regional stability, and it suggests that the two governments should find out an exit and create peace in the region together.