The San Francisco System at sixty: The Okinawa angle

Abstract

The San Francisco Peace Treaty (SFPT), together with its associated security arrangements, significantly shaped the post-World War II order and laid the foundation for the structure of the Cold War confrontation in the Asia-Pacific. Expanded regional cooperation and interaction since the 1990's paved the way for notable confidence building measures (CBM's) among neighboring states at both government and non-government levels in East Asia. Historical experience suggests that it is extremely difficult to solve the conflicts derived from the post-war disposition of Japan bilaterally or through negotiations confined to the nations directly involved in the disputes. The Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE), where the Helsinki Accord was adopted, also developed into the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the world's largest security-oriented intergovern-mental organization. The chapter explores some ideas for the future resolution, particularly the tangible territorial problems between Japan and its neighbors.