《吉田书简》出台之始末

On the Beginning and End of the Appearance of Yoshida Letter

由于冷战和朝鲜战争的爆发,战败的日本面临着是与中华人民共和国还是与台湾当局媾和的抉择,《吉田书简》的出台并非单纯受到美国压力的结果。日本选择加入以美国为首的西方阵营,与台湾当局媾和即是题中之义。既然以美国作为盟友是符合日本国家利益的最优选择,那么牺牲与中华人民共和国的关系就是可以放弃的次要利益。在《吉田书简》产生的过程中,日本政府实际上是一个积极的参与者而非被动的接受者。

Owing to the breaking out of Cold War and the Korean War, the defeated Japan confronted a choice between negotiating with the PRC or with Taiwan. Yoshida Letter is not merely the result of American pressure. Since Japan had joined the Western camps headed by the US, and had become a beneficiary in the war indemnity, negotiation with Taiwan should be the only choice, and it is the natural extension of San Francisco negotiation. Joining the Western camps was the best choice to meet the interests of Japan, so the relationship with the PRC was secondary. During the process of Yoshida Letter＇ s engendering, the Japanese government was an active player, not simply a yes -man.