2000年に向けての日豪関係 : 相互補完性から地域的パートナーシップへ

抄録

This article attempts to clarify the significance of Japan-Australia relationships for each of both nations under the changing international circumstances. In the 1960s Japan and Australia established flourishing trade relations based on 'natural complementarity' between the two economies. The change in international politics and economy in the 1970s, however, challenged the validity of understanding Japan-Australia relations in the context of 'natural complementa-rity'. The oil crisis gave Australia a chance to raise a claim for 'appropriate' export prices of its primary commodities for Japan. At the same time, Australia was put in a danger of reducing its weight as a resource supplier for Japan as the latter transformed its economy into energy and resource saving structure and diversified its sources of resource supply. The Australia, Japan and the Western Pacific Economic Relations (1976; the Okita-Crawford Report) dealt with a problem of how to maintain and develop 'interdependent' Japan-Australia relations which had proved 'vulnerable' to short-term fluctuations in commodity market situations, as illustrated in the iron-ore cutback problems and the beef disputes. The Okita-Crawford Report took an optimistic view on long-term development of close lir}ks between the two countries on the ground of a high degree of economic 'complementarity'. On the other hand, it raised a warning against 'excessive politicisation' o economic affairs which might emerge in the exercise of 'resource diplomacy'. Such a cautious approach is best understood in the context of the argument presented by the former Australian Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam that Australia should give Japan assurance of stable supply of resources lest it should repeat its prewar militaristic diplomacy in pursuit of overseas resources. Along with the above realisation of danger inherent in 'interdependent' economic relations, the Okita-Crawford Report emphasised the importance of establishing mutual trust and minimising political unrest between the two countries. The 1980s saw further changes in internationsl circumstances which gave another significant impact on Japan-Australia relations. A new study report entitled The Australia-Japan Relationships; Towards the Year 2000(1989) attempts to redefine Japan-Australia relations in the advent of new situations such as relative decline of US power, rising economic activity of the Asia-Pacific region and the diminution of the bipolar rivalry of the cold war period. The report points out the significant changes in Japan-Australia relations which have emerged since the mid 1970s. Firstly the bilateral economic relations centred on resource and agricultural trade have become more complex and diversified as shown in the increasing weight of investment and service trade particularly in finance and tourism sectors. Secondly there arose triangular trade among Japan, East Asia and Australia in the Western Pacific region as Asian NIES increased their weight as consumers of Australian resources. These developments have made Japan-Australia relationships more important, not less important, because the range of economic exchange has got broadened, sophisticated and deepened. The bilateral relations has become further important in view of Japan's increased regional and global role. Towards the Year 2000 recognises that Japan and Australia share common interest especially in maintenance of the open non-discriminatory interna-tional trade and economic system and stresses the need to strengthen political dialogue and cooperation between the two countries. It will be in Australia's interest to exert modest influence in the making of international trade and economic policy by giving support to Japanese initiatives there. Then what makes it beneficial for Japan to maintain and develop political

(View PDF for the rest of the abstract.)