中日兩國自1972 年斷交迄今，雙方政治外交關係雖然進展不多。但是自1991 年蘇聯解體、中共國力的崛起，和2001 年九一一事件後美國全球戰略布局的重大調整，使得近十餘年來的台日關係，逐漸由經貿面向朝向安全合作的方向發展。另一方面，日本在1993 年「聯合政府」的再度出現，除了一舉打破了日本自民黨長期壟斷政權的局面之外，也逐漸反映出多數日本人民期盼日本能夠成功地走出敗戰國家陰影、真正成為一個「正常大國」。1993 年後，日本政府也在配合美國戰略外交方針的原則上，在西太平洋地區扮演著更為積極主動的國家角色。本文認為在此一趨勢之下，日、台雙方領導人更應加強相互理解與認識，並進一步共同致力追求東亞地區的永續和平與發展。

The political relationship between the ROC on Taiwan and Japan is not progressive enough after the end of their diplomatic ties in 1972. However, with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the rise of the PRC and the adjustment of US world strategy after the “911 tragedy,” the focus of Taiwan-Japan relations has changed from economy to security cooperation over the past ten years. On the other hand, the restart of the Japanese coalition government in 1993 not only meant the end of the LDP’s one-party system, but also implied that most Japanese have a common will to “Farewell to the defeated status and pursue the Normal State.” This change reflects that Japan will not only continue following US world strategy, but will also play a more active role in the west pacific zone from now on. With such a trend, the author suggests that both Japanese and Taiwanese leaders should understand each other more and cooperate to devote themselves to create a persistent peace and development in the East Asia.