A Comparative Study on the Policy toward Japan between Korea and Taiwan during the Kishi Cabinet (1957-1960)

The Kishi Cabinet extended diplomatic overtures to communist countries while maintaining official relations with Republic of Korea(South Korea) and Republic of China(Taiwan). This strategy reflects a separation of governmental and private-sector objectives. South Korea employed tactics like public relations appeals, international organization appeals, suspension of trade with Japan, and resuming bilateral talks in response to visible repatriation of Koreans in Japan. Taiwan, maintaining diplomatic relations since 1952, protested inclusion of the Chinese flag in the 1958 Sino-Japanese private trade agreement, even considering severing diplomatic ties. Both South Korea and Taiwan were unable to fully deter Japan's engagement with communist nations. However, despite the crisis of the relationship break, they showed a pattern of continuing their relationship with Japan. The purpose of the policy toward Japan was to prevent Japan from developing into more political and diplomatic relations with North Korea or China(PRC) and to recognize their external sovereignty. This became a factor in continuing relations with Japan rather than turning a blind eye to Japan and cutting ties with Japan in the policy toward Japan.