Waseda University Doctoral Student Network (WUDSN) Seminar Series

Japan and China in Globalizing East Asia: Explaining Change inInternational Relations
PRESENTATION 1:
THE RISE OF CHINA AND CHANGES IN JAPAN’S IDENTITY CONSTRUCTION
Kai SCHULZEPhD Candidate, University Duisburg-Essen
kai.schulze@stud.uni-due.deAbstract
The rapid economical rise and the increasing integration of China in internationalorganizations are changing China’s influence on the international community as well as
the perception of China by other states. Primarily the reaction of Japan appears to be ofparticular interest due to its position as current economic leader of the region. This
paper sets out to explore changes in Japan’s identity construction towards China that arearguably caused by these aforementioned developments.
Understanding International Relations as social relations this paper argues that identity
provides a basis for structuring priorities and thus is important for articulating theinterests of social actors. Assuming that identities are highly multidimensional, threefactors are important when exploring identity constructions: the “self” (carrier of theidentity), the “other” (the social environment), and the historical context. Although
identities are consolidated during the process of distinction between the ‘self’ and the‘other’, they are not irrevocably fixed but modifiable as a result of changes of thesefactors.
Against this theoretical backdrop, this research argues that the rapid rise of China has
profoundly changed Japan’s social environment and has initiated a new historicalcontext in which Japan’s foreign policy identity towards China is being constructed.
This transformation has led to changes in parts of Japan’s identity, and will further
cause changes in the setting of priorities pertaining to Japan’s foreign policy interests
towards China.
Short Biography

Kai Schulze studied Political Science and Japanese Studies at theGeorgia-Augusta-University in Göttingen from October 2001 to October 2007. In 2005
he successfully applied for a scholarship of the Monbukagakusho and studied at Chiba
University, Japan, from October 2005 to October 2006. After his return to Germany, hegraduated in October 2007. His master thesis was about the discussion on thetransformation of Japan into a "normal country" and the influence of the planned
revision of Article IX of the Japanese Constitution on this discussion. He joined theInstitute of East Asian Studies (INEAST) at Duisburg-Essen University in Germany asa PhD candidate in April 2008. The working title of his dissertation is: "TheConstruction of Japanese National Identity and its Impact on the Japanese Foreign
Policy towards China". He is currently based at the German Institute for JapaneseStudies (DIJ) in Tokyo to conduct his data collection.

PRESENTATION 2:THE NEXUS BETWEEN TRADITIONAL AND NON-TRADITIONAL SECURITY
COOPERATION IN JAPAN-CHINA RELATIONS: ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY AND THE
CONSTRUCTION OF A NORTHEAST ASIAN REGION
Christian WIRTHPhD Candidate, Waseda University, Tokyo
chwirth@gmail.com
Abstract
Mostly limited to questions of traditional security, Japan-China relations are often
characterized as the result of a power shift, contentions about history or conflicting
identities. However, since the 1990s, processes of globalization are dramaticallychanging and complicating the socio-economic environment in East Asia. It is thus
necessary to analyze regional and bilateral relations comprehensively. The concept ofsecurity, defined in sociological terms by McSweeney (1999) and Camilleri (2000)
provides a useful theoretical framework to capture these dynamics. By taking
environmental security as example, the paper analyzes the development of cooperation
at the diplomatic level, within the frameworks of the Tripartite Environment Ministers
Meetings (TEMM) and the Northwest Pacific Action Plan (NOWPAP). It argues that
despite several significant shortcomings, cooperation in the environmental security
sphere is conducive to the improvement of interstate relations and the building ofpolitical trust as it contributes to the improvement of mutual images by raising theawareness of commonalities rather than differences between Japan and China.
Short Biography
Since April 2008, Christian Wirth is a Research Fellow at the Global Institute for AsianRegional Integration (GIARI) and PhD Candidate at the Graduate School of
Asia-Pacific Studies (GSAPS) at Waseda University. Before coming to Tokyo he wasworking for the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Defence, Civil
Protection and Sport of Switzerland. In 2006 and 2007 Chris studied Chinese atTsinghua University in Beijing. He graduated with a Master of International Affairs
from the Australian National University (ANU) in 2005 and obtained a Master of Law
from the University of St. Gallen (HSG) in 2001. His research interests focus on thepolitical and security challenges to contemporary Northeast Asian societies. Chris isrecipient of a Swiss National Science Foundation scholarship for young researchers.

DISCUSSANT:Dr. Sachiko HIRAKAWA
Associate Professor, Waseda Institute for Asia-Pacific Studies (WIAPS), Waseda
University, Tokyo