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原題目題號：DSE-2020-Essay-03
你是否同意美國促進多於妨礙日本的發展？試參考1945-2000年間的日本發展，解釋你的看法。
二次大戰後，以美國為首的盟總政府佔領了日本。往後，美國就與日本結下了不可分割的關係。美國在促進日本發展的同時，也造成了許多障礙。仔細比較下，美國促進多於妨礙日本的政治、經濟及軍事發展，但卻在外交方面恰恰相反帶來了妨礙多於促進的效果。因此，題目所言在大程度上成立。
政治方面，美國雖然短暫令日本失去自主權，但長遠卻為日本奠定了民主化發展，是促進多於妨礙日本政治發展。就妨礙而言，以美國為首的盟總政府佔領了日本，使日本政府直至1952年為止受到盟總政府的操控而失去自主權，例如被迫實行非軍事化的措施，審判東條英機等前政府的主要官員，妨礙了日本的政治自主性。就促進而言，以美國為首的盟總政府使民主得到在日本確立。在非軍事化方面，盟總政府召開了遠東戰爭法庭，審判了6,000名軍人及整肅了20萬右翼分子，有助剷除軍國主義思想，為植根民主思想提供了良好的環境。在民主化方面，盟總政府為日本頒布了《昭和憲法》(1947年)，廢除天皇權力﹑提高下議院權力，並開展全民選舉的年代，使日本的民主制度能夠確立至今。相比之下，就推動日本民主化進程而言，日本原本受到軍國主義者操控，政治陷入歷史學家所謂的「黑暗的幽谷」。儘管日本在戰後受到美國為首的盟總政府操控而短暫地失去自主權，但長遠卻為日本奠定了民主化道路，發展更持續至今，故美國實促進多於妨礙日本的政治發展。
經濟方面，雖然美國在20世紀末有妨礙到日本的經濟發展，但她卻是日本在戰後復甦經濟的關鍵，促進多於妨礙日本的發展。在妨礙方面，隨著日本在1965年起扭轉了對美國的貿易逆差，兩國間的經濟磨擦也因此而生，美國在1980年代開始對日本的半導體產品、彩色電視機及汽車徵收100%的懲罰性關稅，導致日本的出口量大幅減少，日本企業也因減產而關閉生產線，使日本經濟於1990年代陷入衰退。促進方面，美國不僅提供了20億美元的貸款以協助日本，重新推動日本經濟發展。同時，美國為首的盟總政府大刀闊斧為日本推行改革，其中解散財閥的措施防止了財閥壟斷經濟，令中、小企業能夠在公平、自由的情況下茁壯成長。同時，收購地主超過法定面積的農地並以接近零的價格售予佃農，使大約80%的耕地面積獲得解放，農民獲得土地後有助提昇生產力。在美國的致力協助下，日本經濟迅速復甦，日本的年均經濟增長率於1946-51年間就達到9.9%。相比之下，就日本經濟發展的第一步而言，美國起了關鍵性的作用，不但提供了大量貸款予日本，同時也為日本打造出有利的營商環境，令日本經濟成功在短期內復甦。儘管美國在20世紀末對日本實施懲罰性關稅，但美國在20世紀下半葉一直都是日本的最大貿易伙伴，更自1965年起大多是貿易順差，可見美國實在是有利多於有礙日本的經濟發展。
軍事方面，美國長遠也是促進多於妨礙日本的軍事發展。在妨礙方面，受著美國為首的盟總政府的佔領影響，日本的軍事在二次大戰後的初期受到了大大的壓抑，因盟總政府大肆整肅右翼分子，同時禁止日本政府擁有軍隊，使日本軍力大減，短暫地失去保護國家的能力。在促進方面，美國就於1952年撤出日本前與日本簽訂《日美安全保障條約》(1951年)，由美軍保護日本，日本的軍事開支大幅減少，每年只需投放少於1%的國民生產總值至軍事方面，有助經濟迅速復甦。雖然此舉令日本軍事早期力弱，但美國軍隊保護日本則可彌補此一缺陷，至後期，充裕的經濟實力令日本得以重新發展軍事，更於1983年開始成為世界上第二軍費開支大國。至20世紀末，日本的綜合海軍實力在蘇聯解體後排名世界第二，同時，日本在得到美國的技術支援底下，能夠自行生產F-15戰鬥機，空軍實力亦雄霸亞洲。相比之下，衡量整體發展而言，戰前的日本過度發展軍事，最終拖跨了日本整體的發展。然而，雖然美國在戰後的初期限制了日本的軍事發展，但後來發展出的緊密軍事關係卻一方面彌補了日本的國防漏洞，同時令日本能夠迅速恢復國力，重新再發展軍事，使日本軍事能夠在平衡各方面發展的情況底下再次崛起成世界強國。因此，美國對日本的軍事發展也是促進多於妨礙。
雖然美國在政治、經濟及軍事方面均促進多於妨礙了日本的發展，但在外交方面卻是起了妨礙多於促進的作用。
外交方面，美國在協助日本改善與鄰國關係的同時，令日本被迫捲入冷戰的漩渦，是妨礙多於促進日本的外交發展。在促進方面，以美國為首的盟總政府協助日本改善與鄰近國家的關係，例如美國作為中間人的角色，召開了三藩市會議(1951年)，協調日本與東南亞國家的戰爭賠償議題，使日本在往後能夠陸續與鄰國建交。此外，自1951年起美國的協調下，日、韓展開了長達13年零8個月的七輪會談，最終實現了日、韓於1965年的建交，日本與資本主義國家間的關係逐步建立。在妨礙方面，由於戰後的日本受到以美國為首的盟總政府的支配， 外交上大大受到美國的主導，減低了日本在外交方面的自主性。美國利用日本作為對抗共產主義的棋子，使日本與多個共產國家關係長期交惡，例如在韓戰(1950-53年)及越戰(1961-75年)中，美國利用日本作為在兩次戰爭中的補給基地，以對抗共產主義派別，驅使日本與北韓、北越及中國的關係交惡，在1970年代前未能建交，保持敵對。相比之下，就外交自主性及多元化而言，自盟總政府佔領後，日本外交政策一直受制於美國，外交方針容易受到美國的擺佈而不能自主，更因美國的緣故而使日本被迫捲入冷戰，與共產主義國家長期交惡。可見，美國妨礙多於促進日本的外交發展。
總括而言，美國對於二次大戰後的日本而言有著舉足輕重的影響力，其一方面促進了日本的發展，同時也構成了很大的障礙。在政治、經濟、軍事等方面美國均對日本而言是福多於禍，但外交方面卻正正相反。整體而言，雖然美國的影響力不無弊端，但其正面影響力是造就現代日本的重要力量。因此，題目所言在大程度上成立。
Do you agree that the USA facilitated more than hindered Japan’s development? Explain your view with reference to Japan’s development in the period 1945-2000.
Japan was occupied by the USA-led SCAP government after the Second World War and the USA and Japan had established strong ties with each other since then. While promoting Japan’s development, the USA also created many obstacles for the island country. Upon close comparison, the USA facilitated more than hindered Japan’s political, economic and military development but was quite the opposite in diplomatic aspect. Therefore, the statement is valid to a large extent.
Politically speaking, the USA made Japan lose its autonomy temporarily but laid the foundation for its democracy in the long run, facilitating more than hindering Japan’s political development. In terms of hinderance妨礙, the Japanese government lost its autonomy until 1952 to the USA-led SCAP government, which introduced various demilitarization非軍事化 measures and put principal officials of the former government such as Hideki Tojo on trial. These incidents showed the USA’s hinderance to Japan’s political autonomy. In terms of facilitation促進, the USA-led SCAP government made possible democracy in Japan. As for demilitarization非軍事化, the SCAP government convened the International Military Tribunal for the Far East遠東戰爭法庭, in which around 6,000 personnel were put on trial and over 200,000 rightists were purged, to eliminate militarist ideas and shape an environment favorable to democracy. As for democratization民主化, the SCAP government promulgated the Showa Constitution昭和憲法(1947) to strip the Emperor of all but symbolic authority, give more power to the House of Representatives and grant universal suffrage, establishing democracy in Japan that has lasted until now. In comparison, in terms of promoting Japan’s democratization, instead of being a ‘dark valley黑暗的幽谷’ under militarist control as it used to be, Japan lost its autonomy to the USA-led SCAP government for a short while after the Second World War but was paved a way for its democratization in the long run and has remained a democratic country until now. Therefore, the USA facilitated more than hindered Japan’s political development.
Economically speaking, the USA somewhat hindered Japan’s economic development in the late 20th century but was still key to Japan’s post-war economic recovery, thus facilitating more than hindering the country’s development. In terms of hinderance妨礙, since Japan reversed its trade deficit貿易逆差 with the USA in 1965, there had been friction due to economic reasons between the two nations. The USA started imposing a 100% punitive tariff懲罰性關稅 on Japanese semiconductors半導體, color televisions and cars in the 1980s, leading to a plunge in Japan’s exports, closedown of production lines and eventually its economic recession in the 1990s. In terms of facilitation促進, not only did the USA provide loans amounting US$2 billion for Japan to facilitate its economic development, but it also introduced sweeping reforms through the USA-led SCAP government. These measures included dissolving the zaibatsu解散財閥 to end their monopoly and allow medium and small-sized enterprises to thrive in a fair and free environment, as well as purchasing land from landlords who owned more farmland than what the law allowed and reselling it to tenant farmers佃農 at extremely low prices in order to release 80% of Japan’s cultivated land and boost productivity by letting peasants farm their own land. With the generous support of America, Japan’s economy revived quickly as exemplified by its annual economic growth rate reaching 9.9% in the period 1946-51. In comparison, as far as the first step of Japan’s economic development is concerned, the USA played a significant role by providing massive loans and creating a favourable business environment that allowed Japan to revitalize its economy in a short time. Despite the punitive tariff imposed on Japan in the late 20th century, the USA stood as Japan’s largest trading partner in the second half of the 20th century and had brought substantial trade surplus貿易順差 to Japan since 1965. It was clear that the USA facilitated more than hindered Japan’s economic development.
Militarily speaking, the USA facilitated more than hindered Japan’s military development in the long run. In terms of hinderance妨礙, Japan’s military development was inhibited early in the post-war period under the USA-led Allied Occupation. The SCAP purged rightists and forbade the Japanese government to maintain an army, weakening Japan’s military power and depriving it of the ability to protect itself temporarily. In terms of facilitation促進, before its withdrawal in 1952, the USA signed the Mutual Security Pact日美安全保障條約 with Japan in 1951 that guaranteed American military presence to protect Japan. As a result, there was huge reduction in Japan’s military expenses, which accounted for only 1% of the country’s GDP every year, and the money saved for alternative purposes facilitated Japan’s economic recovery. Although Japan remained militarily weak in the early post-war period, American military presence made up for this shortcoming and allowed Japan to protect itself from external threats. Later on, with the great economic strength it built up over the years, Japan re-started its military expansion and became the world’s second largest military spender in 1983. By the end of the 20th century, Japan ranked second in the world in terms of overall naval capabilities after the dissolution of the USSR. In addition, with American technological support, Japan became able to manufacture F-15 fighter jets and was the front-runner in Asia in terms of air forces. In comparison, as far as Japan’s overall development is concerned, pre-war Japan was overly focused on military development and eventually brought to its knees, while post-war Japan had its military development limited by the USA but their close military ties closed the loopholes in national defense and allowed Japan to recover quickly from the war and restart its military build-up afterwards. As a result, Japan was able to revive as a global military power with balanced development. Therefore, the USA also facilitated more than hindered Japan’s military development.
Although the USA facilitated more than hindered Japan’s development in political, economic and military aspects, it hindered more than facilitated the development of Japan in diplomatic aspect.
Diplomatically speaking, the USA embroiled Japan in the Cold War despite the fact that it also helped Japan improve the relations with the neighbouring countries, hindering more than facilitating Japan’s diplomatic development. In terms of facilitation促進, the USA-led SCAP government helped improve Japan’s relations with the neighbouring countries. For example, the USA as the middleman convened the San Francisco Conference三藩市會議(1951) and arranged war reparations agreements between Japan and Southeast Asian countries, enabling Japan to establish diplomatic relations with the neighboring countries. In addition, the USA had mediated between Japan and South Korea since 1951 and arranged throughout 13 years and 8 months seven rounds of talks, which eventually led to the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1965. In this way, Japan gradually established its relationships with other capitalist countries. In terms of hinderance妨礙, post-war Japan was controlled by the USA-led SCAP government and its diplomatic policy was greatly influenced by the USA, having less autonomy in diplomatic aspect. Used by the USA as a pawn against communism, Japan maintained strained relations with many communist states. For example, during the Korean War韓戰(1950-53) and Vietnam War越戰(1961-75), the USA made Japan its supply base in its two wars against communism, leading to the hostility between Japan and countries such as North Korea, North Vietnam and China. The two sides did not establish any diplomatic relations and remained hostile towards each other before the 1970s. In comparison, in terms of diplomatic autonomy and diversity, after the Allied Occupation took place, Japan did not have complete control over its foreign policy that was under American influence and manipulation, and it was even embroiled in the Cold War and maintained long-term hostility with communist states. Therefore, the USA hindered more than facilitated Japan’s diplomatic development.
In conclusion, the USA had significant influence over Japan after the Second World War, facilitating as well as hindering its development in many ways. The USA did more good than harm to Japan in political, economic and military aspect, but things were quite the opposite in diplomatic aspect. Overall speaking, the American influence took its toll but its positive impact played an important role in shaping modern Japan. Therefore, the statement was valid to a large extent.
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