After The Gulf War Japan's Middle East Policy Research

In the early1990s, the end of the Cold War seems to indicate that the world which istransiting to the multi-polarity has entered a peaceful period. However, the outbreak of theGulf War in1991had made people aware that there have been various conflicts of interestsand even several regional wars around the Palestine and Israel issues in the Middle East,which became the hot spots of the world for the influence. Since the1980s, after becomingthe world economic power, Japan has been no longer satisfied as the “little friend” of theUnited States, and changes the main concept of the national strategy from the “economicpower” to the “normal nation”. Through the ages, wars often could change the internationalstatus of a nation, and the complicated geo-political and war-prone Middle East has provedan opportunity for Japan to strengthen the army and become a “normal nation”. After thefirst oil crisis, Japan had supported for the Arab countries instead of following the U.S.policy in the Middle East, as well as strengthened relations with nations in the Middle East.Although Japan had achieved a more independent Middle East policy, under no leadingnational strategy, the influence has been limited. Under the guidance of Japan’s nationalstrategy, the Japan’s Middle East policy has been more perfect since the Gulf War andshown the different characteristics from the past: first, from the economic perspective,Japan has taken the energy secure policy as the hard core and enhanced the trade diversityas well as paid more attentions on the political factors in Middle East economy; Second,from the political perspective, Japan has gradually become aware of the internationalpolitical influence and increased the political events participation in Middle East toestablish great nation image; Finally, Japan’s security policy has been more prominent inthe Middle East: by participating the anti-terrorism war and the Aden Gulf convoy, Japanhas successfully sent its Self-Defense Forces abroad and even established the first overseasmilitary base in Djibouti. Therefore, Middle East area has become a breakthrough point toachieve Japan’s national strategy.