Japan Energy Diplomacy

Energy (esp.oil) is an important factor of carrying forward social and economic development of a country. It is also a strategic problem connected with the overall situation of international politics and economy. Energy diplomacy is an important part of international economic relations, and it is also an important content of international political relations. Energy diplomacy belongs to the category of economic diplomacy. Energy diplomacy oocupies an important position in the diplomatic and national security strategy in many countries. The specialty of oil that oil is a kind of rare resources, its unequilibrium in distribution, production and consumption and the fact that oil security plays an important part in the economic and national security strategy among many countries determine the position of energy diplomacy in the foreign policy of many countries and have a great effect on international relations and international structure.The development of energy diplomacy depends upon the development of oil industry and gradual popularization and application of oil. The prosperity of energy diplomacy began after the Second World War, which resulted from the fact that oil began to be used on a large scale instead of coal and mankind entered"the century of oil". Since the 1960s-1970s, energy problem and international politics have been closely interactive, energy problem has become one of important sensitive factors affecting international relations.Plunder and control of oil results in international conflicts and contradictions.During the cold war, the Soviet Union and the US which were the two world superpowers fought fiercely for world hegemony in the Middle East and its surrounding areas.After the cold war, the US started several regional wars such as the Gulf War,the Iraq War which had an inseparable connection with oil. In addition, relationship between international oil market and international political and economic situation is obviously interactive. On one hand, when international oil market changes, international energy diplomatic activities took place. These diplomatic activities bring about the further changes of international political and economic situation; on the other hand,the changes of international political and economic situation also lead to the changes of international oil market and a new round of international energy diplomatic activities. Since the 1970s, frequent energy crises and and rising of oil price have threatened the world economy. Under the circumstances, the government of many countries and international society increasingly attach importance to the way energy diplomacy can guarantee energy security supply to a country. Japan is a country destitute of energy. To make sure of steady and reliable supply of overseas energy is important security that can make Japan develop into an economic power, that is to say, without the supplement of oil, Japan's economy after the World War II couldn't have developed rapidly. Japan is a great country consuming oil. Most of crude oil supply depends upon import. So developing good relations with oil countries,strengthening many items of cooperation with them and paying more attention to the trend of world energy dynamics are an important subject of Japan's foreign policies and strategic policies.The main task of Japan's energy diplomacy and energy security is to guarantee outside stable supply of oil and smooth passage of transportation.Energy diplomacy is an important composition of Japan's economic diplomacy. Under the restrictions of post-war conditions, Japan regards the pursuit of economic prosperity as the fundamentals of building the state, and treats economy diplomacy as its main diplomatic way, Since the Yoshida Shigern cabinet, every government takes economic development and coordination with the US as the core of diplomacy, actively keeps a low profile in international affairs and widen international environment for economic growth by means of economic diplomacy. Besides, under the limited conditions of capability of political diplomacy and military diplomacy, Japan always treats economic diplomacy as an important way when dealing with the politics and safety issues. Thus,the functions of economic diplomacy are beyond the category of net economic issues, which is the most conspicuous characteristics of Japan's post-war diplomacy.China is now in the stage of rapid development of industrialization. Energy resources are in great supply. Whether there is steady and reliable energy supply will have a great effect on the overall situation of China's economic development.Without doubt,Japan is a country that is expert in exerting energy diplomacy on the international stage.Some of its successful experiences should be learnt. China and Japan both lie in the Asian-Pacific region. The two countries treat Middle East and Gulf region as import sources for oil, and they are facing the dangers of crude oil transportation by sea. So the two countries have cooperative potential in the field of such energy as oil. If they can realize mutual-benefit and win-win with each other, this will futher carry forward and promote the development of Sino-Japanese relations.