JAPAN AND THE UNITED STATES RELATIONSHIP IN THE
SECURITY FIELD
A. A Brief History of Relations between Japan and the United States
The outbreak of World War II which occurred in 1939 was an international conflict involving
two opposing camps between the Axis Block and Allied Block. This conflict is part of an
extension of the remaining conflicts of World War I which have not been completely
resolved. In the midst of the heat of the conflict of World War II, Japan expanded its territory
in the Asia Pacific region to attract the attention of the allies. This will be the initial trigger
for major changes in international political conditions. (Ashari, 2015, p. 475)
1. Japan's defeat in World War II
Freed from the politics of isolation in 1868, Japan attempted to expand its influence
globally by launching Japanese imperialism against Asian countries. Japan is very aggressive
in showing its military power. Japan launched an invasion by placing its military power to
control an area and was involved in various wars. Japan has shown itself as a country that has
strong military power and deserves to be reckoned with on the global stage. (Riyanto, 2012)
One of Japan's aggressive actions that became the international spotlight was when
Japan invaded to conquer China under Japanese rule. The climax on December 13, 1937
occurred the tragedy of the "Nanking cruelty" committed by the Japanese military, namely
the mass murder of 300,000 people for six weeks. In addition, under the leadership of
General Matsui Iwane, there were other serious violations of human rights in the form of
sexual slavery and the killing of women and children of more than 20,000 people, causing
deep wounds for the Chinese people to this day. (Zakiya, 2012) This atrocity received
worldwide criticism, including from the countries of America, Europe and Southeast Asia.
The United States sanctioned Japan for its atrocities by imposing an economic embargo on
Japan in the form of banning the export of iron, steel and oil to Japan so that Japan lost 90%
of its oil supplies. This automatically weakened Japan's military and economic power.
(Santosa, 2012)
On the other hand, Japan succeeded in controlling Vietnam by expelling French
colonialism in Vietnam. Japan also succeeded in occupying Indonesia after repelling the
Dutch colonial rule that had previously controlled Indonesia for more than three centuries.
When Japan was hit by an oil embargo by the United States due to its invasion of China,
Japan increasingly expanded its imperialistic disk to Southeast Asian countries, namely
Indonesia. Japan's main target was Indonesia so that it could control the territory and oil
resources owned by Indonesia - which at that time was called the Dutch East Indies. Japan
succeeded in controlling Indonesia by using propaganda in Indonesia through the Three A
Movement (AAA movement) which contained three mottoes namely Japan the leader of Asia
(Japan the Leader of Asia), Japan the protector of Asia (Japan the Protector of Asia) and
Japan the light of Asia (Japan the Light of Asia). Light of Asia). (Dower, 1986, p. 6)
Although it succeeded in expanding its wings of power in Asia, Japan faced obstacles
and problems originating from the United States in the form of an oil embargo and received
criticism from the international community. This open conflict between Japan and the United
, States could not be avoided because each other claimed that their country was the strongest
country. The United States, which incidentally has strong military capabilities and capacities,
feels unrivaled by the increased military power possessed by Japan. Coupled with Japan's
ambition to dominate Asia, it is possible that Japan will have ambitions to dominate the
world.
a. Japanese Attack on United States Military Bases
Japan's self-confidence is increasing with the support of Japan's increasingly
sophisticated military capacity. Japan does not want to be stuck in open conflict with the
United States for too long. Japan targeted the attack on the United States' Pearl Harbor
military base in Hawaii. Strategically, Japan carried out reconnaissance to obtain intelligence
information about the navy and military in the western coastal areas of the Panama Canal and
Hawaii. Then Japan sent a warning message that it would attack the US military base. The
United States did not regard the warning of the attack as a serious threat because it believed
that Japan's military might would not be able to penetrate its defenses. (Handoko, 2014)
Based on the picture above, the Japanese route for the attack on Pearl Harbor began
on November 25, 1941. The Japanese aircraft carrier fleet, Kido Butai, carrying six carrier-
based aircraft and their fighter planes departed from Hitokappu Bay to the Hawaiian Islands.
In the middle of its journey across the Pacific Ocean, the war fleet stopped briefly to conduct
reconnaissance and refuel on December 3 of the same year. As far as 3000 miles, the
Japanese aircraft carrier fleet was not detected by the United States military base. Until
December 7, 1941, Kido Butai managed to launch his fighter plane 230 miles to the island of
Oahu. (Kelly & Swenson, 2013)
SECURITY FIELD
A. A Brief History of Relations between Japan and the United States
The outbreak of World War II which occurred in 1939 was an international conflict involving
two opposing camps between the Axis Block and Allied Block. This conflict is part of an
extension of the remaining conflicts of World War I which have not been completely
resolved. In the midst of the heat of the conflict of World War II, Japan expanded its territory
in the Asia Pacific region to attract the attention of the allies. This will be the initial trigger
for major changes in international political conditions. (Ashari, 2015, p. 475)
1. Japan's defeat in World War II
Freed from the politics of isolation in 1868, Japan attempted to expand its influence
globally by launching Japanese imperialism against Asian countries. Japan is very aggressive
in showing its military power. Japan launched an invasion by placing its military power to
control an area and was involved in various wars. Japan has shown itself as a country that has
strong military power and deserves to be reckoned with on the global stage. (Riyanto, 2012)
One of Japan's aggressive actions that became the international spotlight was when
Japan invaded to conquer China under Japanese rule. The climax on December 13, 1937
occurred the tragedy of the "Nanking cruelty" committed by the Japanese military, namely
the mass murder of 300,000 people for six weeks. In addition, under the leadership of
General Matsui Iwane, there were other serious violations of human rights in the form of
sexual slavery and the killing of women and children of more than 20,000 people, causing
deep wounds for the Chinese people to this day. (Zakiya, 2012) This atrocity received
worldwide criticism, including from the countries of America, Europe and Southeast Asia.
The United States sanctioned Japan for its atrocities by imposing an economic embargo on
Japan in the form of banning the export of iron, steel and oil to Japan so that Japan lost 90%
of its oil supplies. This automatically weakened Japan's military and economic power.
(Santosa, 2012)
On the other hand, Japan succeeded in controlling Vietnam by expelling French
colonialism in Vietnam. Japan also succeeded in occupying Indonesia after repelling the
Dutch colonial rule that had previously controlled Indonesia for more than three centuries.
When Japan was hit by an oil embargo by the United States due to its invasion of China,
Japan increasingly expanded its imperialistic disk to Southeast Asian countries, namely
Indonesia. Japan's main target was Indonesia so that it could control the territory and oil
resources owned by Indonesia - which at that time was called the Dutch East Indies. Japan
succeeded in controlling Indonesia by using propaganda in Indonesia through the Three A
Movement (AAA movement) which contained three mottoes namely Japan the leader of Asia
(Japan the Leader of Asia), Japan the protector of Asia (Japan the Protector of Asia) and
Japan the light of Asia (Japan the Light of Asia). Light of Asia). (Dower, 1986, p. 6)
Although it succeeded in expanding its wings of power in Asia, Japan faced obstacles
and problems originating from the United States in the form of an oil embargo and received
criticism from the international community. This open conflict between Japan and the United
, States could not be avoided because each other claimed that their country was the strongest
country. The United States, which incidentally has strong military capabilities and capacities,
feels unrivaled by the increased military power possessed by Japan. Coupled with Japan's
ambition to dominate Asia, it is possible that Japan will have ambitions to dominate the
world.
a. Japanese Attack on United States Military Bases
Japan's self-confidence is increasing with the support of Japan's increasingly
sophisticated military capacity. Japan does not want to be stuck in open conflict with the
United States for too long. Japan targeted the attack on the United States' Pearl Harbor
military base in Hawaii. Strategically, Japan carried out reconnaissance to obtain intelligence
information about the navy and military in the western coastal areas of the Panama Canal and
Hawaii. Then Japan sent a warning message that it would attack the US military base. The
United States did not regard the warning of the attack as a serious threat because it believed
that Japan's military might would not be able to penetrate its defenses. (Handoko, 2014)
Based on the picture above, the Japanese route for the attack on Pearl Harbor began
on November 25, 1941. The Japanese aircraft carrier fleet, Kido Butai, carrying six carrier-
based aircraft and their fighter planes departed from Hitokappu Bay to the Hawaiian Islands.
In the middle of its journey across the Pacific Ocean, the war fleet stopped briefly to conduct
reconnaissance and refuel on December 3 of the same year. As far as 3000 miles, the
Japanese aircraft carrier fleet was not detected by the United States military base. Until
December 7, 1941, Kido Butai managed to launch his fighter plane 230 miles to the island of
Oahu. (Kelly & Swenson, 2013)
