should be strengthened for her security. More precisely, increase in the information, especially concerning military capability, of neighbor countries became extremely crucial for Japans security.Side-by-side with these changes made with the fading of the Cold War, Japan was also torn between the conflicting American and Asian demands. During the Gulf War, Americans demanded Japans personnel contribution to the American-led forces. However, when Japanese government introduced the UN Peace Cooperation Corp. (UNPC) bill in the Diet, which authorized the dispatch of the Self Defense Force (SDF) to the Gulf for non-combat logistical support, it unleashed a violent flow of criticism from Asian countries (Midford, 375). The most noticeable criticism came from China and Korea, reflecting their most severe damage during WWII. The same thing happened when Japan dispatched her troops overseas to participate in UN peacekeeping operations in 1992. As one of the worlds powerful countries, at least in economy, Japan [has] realized that it would have to expand its role in international security, says Paul Midford in Japans leadership role in East Asian security multilateralism: the Nakayama proposal and the logic of reassurance (Midford, 376). However at the same time, she also realized that a larger security role, including even modest steps as SDF participation in UN peacekeeping operations, would require extensive reassurance of Asian countries, Midford continues (Midford, 376). It became crucial for Japan to clearly identify herself in the world. Indirect monetary aids to foreign countries became no longer adequate for one of the worlds powerful nation. Her strong commitment to international security became necessary and to do so, she first had to reassure Asian nations that she was not assuming a military role in the international community. The result was the construction of a broader framework for both regional and global security n...
