Japan Between Asia and the West: Economic Power and Strategic Balance

Japan seeks economic competitiveness vis-a-vis the West and economic dominance in Asia, but it mainly competes through cooperative use of economic resources, which facilitates realization of the goals of partner nations. This book studies Japans balance between the United States and East Asia by focusing on the use of economic power - defense spending, consumption, and investment - to advance Japans political and strategic as well as economic interests. It also investigates Japans direct use of economic resources, namely, aid and sanctions, and by extension, discusses Japans relations with the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank.