Japan, as a country with a population of 120 million and a long-standing position as one of the world's top three economies, is deeply under the control of the United States.
How is this control achieved?
From various perspectives, the United States has established comprehensive means to influence all levels of Japanese politics, economy, and society.
Firstly, the United States has established numerous military bases in Japan and stationed nearly 40,000 troops there, all legally present under agreements formed after World War II.
Through the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan, the U.S. not only gained wartime operational command over Japan's military but also designed, constructed, and manages military bases within Japan, even controlling portions of Japan's airspace.
Additionally, the U.S. holds the right to suppress riots in Japan, ensuring that the safety of Japanese officials remains firmly in American hands.
Secondly, various aspects of Japan's economy are influenced by conglomerates intertwined with significant American capital.
For instance, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, among others, counts American capital among its top ten shareholders.
These conglomerates not only affect the operation of Japan's economy but also support politicians who align with them politically.
Politicians rely on conglomerates' support during elections and governance, shaping the normal turnover of power in Japanese politics.
However, attempts by politicians to break free from American control often encounter coordinated resistance backed by American capital, contributing to the frequent turnover of Japanese prime ministers.
Furthermore, the U.S. fully integrates Japan into global industrial divisions centered around the U.S. and a global commodities system settled in U.S. dollars through economic treaties.
By deeply influencing Japan's monetary and exchange rate policies, the U.S. effectively controls Japan's financial system, profoundly impacting Japan's economic trends.
For example, the Plaza Accord exemplifies U.S. influence in international financial markets, where Japan struggles to independently select financial policies beneficial to itself, leading to anomalous performances such as in the yen exchange rate.
On a societal level, the U.S. shapes and influences the values and ideologies of Japanese society through methods of public opinion control.
Post-war, the U.S. conducted extensive surveillance on Japan, strictly monitoring and intervening in Japanese education, publishing, broadcasting, news media, and film industries through controlled propaganda agencies.
For example, Yomiuri Shimbun became one of Japan's largest-circulation newspapers with support from the U.S., while other media maintained long-term cooperation with the CIA, enhancing their influence to mitigate anti-American sentiments within Japanese society.
Beyond these overt methods, the U.S. established numerous intelligence agencies in Japan, tasked with gathering intelligence across various fields.
Activities include monitoring technological and energy sectors by officials from the U.S. Embassy in Japan, U.S. Air Force intelligence agencies, and the U.S. Department of Energy.
Moreover, Japan collaborates with the U.S. in establishing the "U.S.-Japan Joint Intelligence Analysis Organization," sharing and analyzing intelligence on the equipment and weapons of Japan's Self-Defense Forces.
Such collaborations not only strengthen American influence over Japan's domestic and foreign policies but also ensure Japan's compliance with American policies.
In conclusion, although Japan possesses geographical independence and sovereignty, in practical terms, it remains subjected to multiple controls and influences from the United States.
From military and economic dimensions to societal aspects, the United States employs diverse means to ensure deep-seated control over Japan.
This situation appears autonomous but is, in reality, a prolonged outcome under the shadow of American influence.
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