关键词: 地理政治 , 日本 , 滨外岛 , 对外政策 , 国际政治

Abstract: This article attempts to explore into the interactive connections between geopolitical shifts on the East Asian continent and orientations of the Japanese foreign policies in modern history. The author argues that, the orientations of Japanese foreign policies in modern history have been largely determined by two geopolitical factors. One is the power structure on the East Asian continent; the other is the policy of the leading maritime power on the other side of the Pacific(US.). These two factors can not only explain the expansions of Japan in modern history, especially in the East Asian continent during World War Ⅱ, but also explain the Japanese pacifist foreign policy since the end of World War Ⅱ. The author points out that, given the increasing rise of China in contemporary world, Japanese foreign policy orientations in the coming years will be at the crossroad again, and how to avoid malignant ramifications and repercussions caused by the rise of China and manage to maintain a relatively normal SinoJapanese relationship will be a major challenge faced by Chinese foreign policy in the foreseeable future.

Key words: geopolitics , Japan , offshore islands , foreign policies , international politics