From creation of the alliance to the Nixon Doctrine (1960–9)
Between 1960 and 1969, Japan’s security policy was based on a delicate balance between different and contrasting aims, such as avoiding the risk of entrapment in Cold War politics, securing domestic consensus in front of strongly pacifist public opinion, acting as a faithful ally of the United States and promoting economic and technological development. The Japanese leadership managed to fulfil these aims by reinforcing and institutionalizing the Yoshida Doctrine, which was the basic security strategy proposed by Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida in the 1940s. Japan strengthened its self-binding prescriptions, avoided any active military role and promoted an ambitious program of internalization of military technology. This strategy was made possible by America’s flexible response strategy, which entailed military intervention to contain communism and a permanent effort to demonstrate the credibility of the US commitment to the security of Asia.