What Is the Yoshida Line/Doctrine, Essay Example

What is the Yoshida Line/Doctrine? Why was it adopted? To what extent did it influence Japan’s international relations for the remainder of the 20th century?

The Yoshida Doctrine was a policy named after Shigeru Yoshida, a post-World War II Prime Minister of Japan. The basic tenet of the doctrine was to keep a low diplomatic profile, while simultaneously placing the highest national priority on economic development. This doctrine was the basic principle of Japan’s foreign policy throughout the Cold War.

Only after it almost came apart at the seams during the Security Treaty Crisis of 1960, did Japan settle on the Yoshida Doctrine, the product of a compromise that left many people unhappy. The incidences of defeat and desolation as consequences of its prewar policy of military violence evidently caused Japan to welcome the Yoshida Doctrine. The basic tenets of this postwar policy were; the focus on trade and technology as means to increase its economic control, as well as relying on the American security guarantee while spending remarkably little on the protection of itself. Yoshida’s goal was to concentrate all available resources on economic recovery while leaving Japan’s military defence up to the USA. Although Yoshida claimed pacifism as a basis for this Doctrine, it was also said that he did this out of the misconception that a speedy, economic recovery would return Japan to a major world power status; enabling him to rearm his country once it had recovered. In the meantime, the protection of Japan was to be handled and paid for by the US; in line with the traditional goal of capitalizing on the trends of international politics in order to increase the Japanese influence and standing throughout the world.

The Yoshida Doctrine had a slightly negative impact on Japan’s international relations for the remainder of the 20^th century. Many people viewed the policy as one in which Japan was getting a free ride from the United States. This caused some friction and criticism from other countries. At the same time, a heated internal debate about the direction for Japan should take ensued within its own country. Traditional realists such as Kishi, Hatoyama and Nakasone believed that reacquiring the manoeuvring room and military power needed to play the great power game was in the best interests of Japan. At the same time, the Progressives believed that Japan should support a policy of a neutral, unarmed stance and relinquish their association with the Americans. Although conflict reinforced the Yoshida Doctrine, the absence of conflict led Japan’s economic policy into a deep fissure from which it was unable to climb out of.

Works Cited

“Japanese Domestic Politics: The Challenge of Turning off the …” N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2010 <http://www.fpri.org/education/teachingjapan/schoppa.domesticpolitics.html>.