日米同盟関係の変遷と今後の東アジア地域の秩序

美日同盟關係的演變與東亞區域秩序的未來（Evolution of the U.S.-Japan Alliance and Future of East Asia）

2010年是美日修訂安保條約後50周年，從1960年代起，美日安保體系的演變大致可以區分為四個階段：從原本只是偏重於雙邊的經貿關係，逐漸朝向政治夥伴關係，以及建立制度性的協商機制；到了1990年代起則致力於在區域層級建立軍事同盟關係；進入2000年以來，美日同盟關係更跨向全球議題的合作。但是2009年日本民主黨執政後，由於民主黨政府較重視「東亞共同體」，認為日本有必要強化與亞洲鄰國的友好關係；至於美日關係則朝向「對等的美日關係」，讓日本有更大的自主權。然而鳩山前首相的「日本、中國、美國」三角等距離關係在實踐上卻出現相當大的爭議，鳩山前首相甚至因此而付出沉重的政治代價。而日本民主黨執政時期美日同盟關係陷入低潮的影響，對東亞區域秩序產生相當大的影響。

On January 19, 1960, U.S. Secretary of State Christian Herter and Japanese Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi signed a historic treaty, in which U.S. gained basing rights in exchange for securing the Japanese homeland. Since the 1960s, the evolutions of U.S.-Japan security system can be roughly divided into four phases: from the original sole emphasis on bilateral economic and trade relations to the gradual establishment of political partnership and a system of consultation mechanisms. After the 1990s, U.S. and Japan tried to establish a military alliance at the regional level, an alliance that progressed towards cooperation on global issues after entry into the new millennium. However, when the Democratic Party of Japan came into power in 2009, its higher emphasis on 'East Asian Community' oriented Japan towards strengthening friendly relations with its Asian neighbors. Hence, U.S.-Japan relations face a new landscape: one in which the new Japanese government wants more autonomy. However, Prime Minister Hotoyama's 'Japan-China-U.S.' equidistant triangular relationship has generated considerable controversy in practice, leading Prime Minister Hatoyama to pay a heavy political price. The ham-handed diplomacy of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan and the downturn in US-Japan alliance have a considerable impacts on the regional order in East Asia.