TTLV: Adjusting Japan's military strategy from 1992 to present

MASTER'S THESIS INFORMATION

1. Student's full name:Nguyen Trung Huong            

2. Gender: Male

3. Date of birth: November 14, 1969

4. Place of birth: Vinh Yen - Vinh Phuc

5. Decision on recognition of students No. 3215/2014/QD-XHNV-SDH dated December 30, 2014 of the President of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi

6. Changes in training process: Extending study time until June 2017

7. Thesis topic name:Adjustments to Japan's military strategy from 1992 to present.

8. Major: International Relations Code: 60.31.02.06

9. Scientific instructor:Associate Professor, Dr. Dang Xuan Khang, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

10. Summary of thesis results:

Japan is currently the world's third largest economy, with a modern industrial base, but for a long time, Japan has been likened to a "one-legged giant". After World War II, Japan was a defeated country, forced to give up the right to develop military potential. During the Cold War, Japan implemented a defense policy according to the "Peace Constitution of 1946" imposed by the United States, not building an army and not using force to resolve international disputes, only building a defense force with the function of defending the country and ensuring social stability, security assurance mainly relied on the United States and the United Nations. However, with the remarkable development of the country's economy, along with the complex and strong fluctuations of the international and regional situation after the Cold War, especially the collapse of the socialist system in Eastern Europe, the Soviet Union, the decline of the US's power, as well as the rise of China with the goal of becoming a world power and especially the ambition to expand its territory... not only strongly impacted the requirements of ensuring national defense and security, but also urged Japan to develop into a comprehensive power. To achieve that goal, in recent years, Japan has continuously promoted the adjustment of its military strategy towards building a powerful national army with full functions like the armies of other world powers.

Japan and Vietnam are strategic partners, with many similarities in history and culture. The cooperative relationship between the two countries has been growing strongly in all areas in recent years. Vietnam is considered by Japan as an important partner in its overall national strategy, especially in its strategy for the East Asia region. Japan is a large country with strong potential, so the adjustment of its military strategy will have significant impacts on the international and regional situation, including Vietnam. Therefore, it is extremely important to grasp Japan's military strategy adjustments so that Vietnam can have appropriate solutions in its relations with Japan to gain the greatest benefits and limit the adverse impacts of Japan's adjustments, especially in the context of major countries increasingly attaching importance to the Asia-Pacific region, of which Southeast Asia is a key point, in the context of Japan-China relations having complexities that are difficult to resolve, and Vietnam-China and Vietnam-US relations having sensitive issues. In recent years, although scientists, researchers, and public opinion at home and abroad have been very interested in following, studying, and have written many articles on Japan's military strategy adjustments, there have been no in-depth, comprehensive, specific, and systematic studies on this issue. Therefore, researching the topic "Adjusting Japan's military strategy from 1992 to present" to comprehensively assess and accurately forecast Japan's military strategy in the coming decades is an issue of extremely urgent and practical significance, contributing practically to the cause of building and defending the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

11. Practical application:

The thesis can be used as research and reference material for agencies, schools, especially for scientific research staff.

12. Further research directions.

13. Published works related to the thesis.

INFORMATION ON MASTER'S THESIS

1. Full name: Nguyen Trung Huong 2. Sex: Male.

3. Date of birth: November 14, 1969. 4. Place of birth: Vinh Yen City - Vinh Phuc Province.

5. Admission decision number: 3215/2014/QD-XHNV-SĐH, Date: December 30, 2014 University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Hanoi.

6. Changes in academic process: Extend studying period till June 2017.

7. Official thesis title: Adjustment of Japan's military strategy from 1992 up to now.

8. Major: International Studies Code: 60.31.02.06

9. Supervisors: Dang Xuan Khang, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Hanoi

10. Summary of the findings of the thesis:

Japan is now the third largest economy all over the world, with a modern industry, however over the past long period of time, this country has been considered “one legged giant”. After the Second World War, Japan was the loser and this country had to abandon its right of developing military capabilities. During the Cold War, Japan has carried out its defense policy based on “Peaceful Constitution 1946”, which was imposed by the US. formation, Japan was not allowed to build army and use force to deal with international disputes. It could only establish defense forces with self-defense function and guaranteed social stability. The duty on ensuring security relies mainly on the US and the United Nations. However, the strong development of the national economy, together with the complex changes of regional and international situation after the Cold War, especially the collapse of socialist countries in Eastern Europe, particularly the Soviet Union, the decrease in America's power and the rise of China with the ambition of becoming a global superpower and broadening its territory…not only had strong effects on the demand to ensure national defense and security but also encouraged Japan to become a comprehensive superpower.

In order to realize this goal, over the past few years, Japan has continuously promoted the adjustment of military strategy towards building a strong national army with full functions like armies of other global superpowers.

Japan and Vietnam are strategic partners with a number of common features on history and culture. Cooperation between the two countries, over the past years, has continuously developed in all aspects. Japan has considered Vietnam an important partner in its overall national strategy, particularly in its strategy on East Asia.

Japan is a big country and has a strong capability, therefore, the adjustment in its military strategy will largely effect the regional as well as international situation, including Vietnam. As a result, it will be a very important significance for Vietnam to understand well about the adjustment of Japan's military strategy, in order to have suitable behaviors in the relationship with this country for achieving maximum interests and minimizing unfavorable effects from this adjustment, especially in the situation that big countries are attaching more and more importance to the Asia Pacific region, in which Southeast Asia is a main point; Japan - China relationship still remains complicated; the relationship between Vietnam - China as well as Vietnam - US still exists sensitive challenges.

Over the past years, there have been so many scientists, researchers and world opinion paying attention and doing research about the adjustment of Japan's military strategy, however, there has not been any comprehensive and systematic research work on this issue yet. Therefore, doing research on the title “Adjustment of Japan's military strategy from 1992 up to now” in order to comprehensively evaluate and accurately predict this country's military strategy in the next decades plays a very important and pressing role in contributing efforts and serving for the cause of development and protection of Vietnam's socialist.

11. Practical applicability, if any:

This thesis can be used as research document and reference for agencies and schools, particularly for scientific research staff.

12. Further research directions, if any:

13. Thesis-related publications: