terrorism

The attacks on the WTC and the Pentagon, were attacks against the symbols of the economic and military might of the only superpower in the world. The WTC towers had more significance as it represented the globalized economy and business houses from many countries had their offices and people working there. In the resulting crisis, Japan which itself enjoyed the status of an economic superpower and had amicable economic and security relations with United States, could not stay away like in the past notably the Gulf war, when Japan’s reaction as well as contributions came in quite late.

As seen in the previous chapter that the menace of terrorism is not a new challenge for Japan. Besides domestic terrorism, Japan has also been the victim of international terrorism, the prominent example of which was the seizure of the Japanese ambassador’s residence in Peru in 1996. Before the Japanese government’s reaction to the September 11 attacks is discussed, it is perhaps instructive t...