[Sangetsu]

After the end of the war Japan had no choice but to become close to America as their unconditional surrender put Japan under full American control. The end of the war completely broke down the prewar government and industrial systems in which a limited number of people and companies controlled the vast majority of land and industry. Following the war, ownership of the land and industry was greatly redistributed to the people, and for the first time in memorable history Japanese farmers actually owned the farms they worked.

Douglas MacArthur was instrumental in designing the framework of modern Japan, as he had more or less a free hand in administering the country. The generation of Japanese which followed the war are called "MacArthur's Children", and though MacArthur was the man primarily in charge of Japan's military defeat, he enjoyed incredible respect in the country following the war. Some even say that he was more loved in Japan than he was in America.

As a virtual American colony during the early postwar years, Japan's close relationship with the US was inevitable. In the years that followed Japan became increasingly independent and autonomous, but the economic and even ideological relationship became stronger. The US and Japan colluded together during the Cold War to prevent the spread of communism in Asia, and Japan was instrumental (though not obviously so) to America during the Korean and Vietnam wars.

In order to encourage Japanese capitalism (and thwart the rise of Asian socialism) Japan was encouraged by America to increase it's industry and exports, and America itself was the largest consumer of these.

Obvious cultural differences aside, Japan and America are more closely related to one another than they are to any other country. This has benefited both countries.

What benefit would it be for Japan to open a closer partnership to China? China can not and will not become the world's largest economy unless it becomes as close to America as Japan has been.

Korea has not become closer to China. They have invested in China out of professional interest, but Korea knows that China is the one who pulls North Korea's strings, so there will never be a close relationship between the two. Taiwan will never become close to China for the obvious reasons, and South East Asia's only other socialist country, Vietnam, has been quietly severing it's ties with China and increasing it's friendship with America. For the first time since the end of the Vietnam war, an American Navy carrier group has entered Vietnamese waters at the behest of the Vietnamese.

The powers-that-be in Asia are afraid of a too-strong China, and they wish to retain their independence. Their only hope of retaining such independence is through closer ties with America. The European economy cannot match America's, and Europe no longer possesses the military necessary power to keep China at bay. If you haven't been watching the news in recent months, America has been slowly building up it's military presence in Asia. In addition to the above mentioned carrier group now off Vietnam, 3 ballistic missile submarines have also been deployed around Asia. This tends to show which way the wind is blowing in terms of the rest of Asia's thoughts on China vs America.