일본의 전후 아시아 ‘배상외교’와 역사인식

Japan’s Postwar Asian Reparation Diplomacy and Historical Perceptions : Achievements and Limitations of Inter-governmental Reconciliation

Based on the Treaty of Peace with Japan, signed in San Francisco in September 1951, Japan entered into a reparation agreement or economic cooperation agreement with Asian countries to establish a new relationship by clearing the past. The purpose of this paper is twofold. One is to examine how the historical issues of war and colonial rule were dealt with during the normalization of relations between Japan and Asian countries in terms of intergovernmental reconciliation. The other is to analyze the contents of the three discourses published by the Japanese Prime Minister, including Murayama Statement in the context of post-war process, to derive their limits and meanings. Japan provided $ 1.5 billion in reparations or economic assistances to Asian countries until the 1970s, but with more than compensation for war and colonial rule. In other words, although Japan s economic support and cooperation contributed to the economic development of Asian countries and strengthened economic relations with Asian neighbors, as an assailant, Japan did not reflect on the damage caused by the aggressive war and colonial rule. Lack of awareness of the apology meant that it did not lead to reconciliation or building trust with Asian countries.