JAPAN\'S POSITION IN EAST ASIA: FROM A REGIONAL FORCE TO A DEPENDENT BALANCER

Stanković Sanja (Autor je student na master programu „Studije mira“ na Fakultetu političkih nauka, Univerzitet u Beogradu),

The paper analyzes the position of Japan in the region of East Asia, with a reference to the historical course of time, from its rise to a regional and then to a great power, which used its capacity to achieve imperialistic goals. Also, the paper includes an analysis of the Japanese ability to regain the old position in the regional distribution of power, following the departure of the US controllers in 1952. A special consideration was given to Japan\'s strategy to maintain a status quo in the Far East in the new circumstances, primarily in the rise of China as a world power.

Keywords: Japan, balancing, the rise of China, World War II, offensivedefensive realism, hedging