About the Book

After the Second World War, many regional conflicts emerged in the Asia-Pacific, such as the divided Korean peninsula, the Cross-Taiwan Strait, the ‘Northern Territories’, (Southern Kuriles) Takeshima (Tokdo), Senkaku (Diaoyu) and the Spratly (Nansha) islands problems. These and other disputes share an important common foundation in the post-war disposition of Japan. Signed by forty-nine countries in San Francisco, the ‘San Francisco System’ determined the post-war political and security order in the region, and with its associated security arrangements, laid the foundation for the regional Cold War structure.

Examining the history and contemporary implications of the ‘San Francisco System’, Cold War Frontiers in the Asia-Pacific gives a comprehensive analysis of the system, using the regional Cold War as the key situation to understand the current political and security in the Asia Pacific. Drawing on extensive archival research as well as current day analysis and original research, Kimie Hara uncovers vital links between the regional problems in the Asia-Pacific and their underlying association with Japan, and explores the clues for their future resolution within the multilateral context in which they originated. This book will appeal to students and scholars interested in Japanese politics, international relations, diplomatic history and Japanese history.