日本對中亞外交政策之分析

An Analysis of Japan's Foreign Policy toward Central Asia

中亞地區不僅地處重要的戰略地位，且具有豐富的礦產、天然氣以及石油等自然資源，而被視為是「第二中東」、「21 世紀的戰略能源基地」。因此，本文針對日本在中亞地區的外交政策進行分析。首先研究發現早在蘇聯瓦解後，日本探知中亞地區出現權力真空及蘊藏大量的天然資源，遂與中亞五國展開交往並進行戰略佈局。其次，日本逐步地增強對中亞地區的政策力道，從一開始的缺乏整體戰略考量，僅透過 ODA 政策來獲取經濟利益與能源資源，到基於能源外交、地緣政治以及謀求大國地位而提出「歐亞大陸/絲綢之路外交」。2004 年後，日本則更進一步採取制度化且更為全面的政策，經濟援助已成為其整體區域外交戰略的一部份。除了經濟利益外，政治大國地位以及維護自身地緣政治安全等國家戰略利益也成為日本的重要政策目標。

Central Asia is located strategically beside the Middle East and possesses rich energy resources. The region is often considered as the ''Second Middle East'' or the ''strategic energy base of the twenty-first century,'' endowing it with important strategic status in Japanese foreign policy. As early as the fall of the Soviet Union, Japan took notice of Central Asia's power vacuum and natural resources and engaged with the region. Since then, Japan has gradually increased its emphasis on Central Asia, expanding from the lack of a strategic conception to the introduction of the Eurasia/Silk Road Diplomacy hinged on energy diplomacy and geopolitics in the region. After 2004, Japan adopted more comprehensive and institutionalized policies towards Central Asia centered on official development assistance (ODA), political status and national security.