從1996年以來,日本與臺灣關係出現了以下三種現象:臺日官方互動越來越頻繁、臺日企業合作層次逐步提高,以及臺日民間往來越來越密切。但仔細分析後發現,首先,臺日官方雖然互動頻繁,但人員往返卻以國會議員占大多數;第二,臺日企業合作層次雖然逐步提高,但是合作範圍卻侷限在中國市場;最後,則是臺日民間往來雖然密切,但是議題卻囿限於觀光議題。為何在1996年之後臺灣與日本關係會出現這三種矛盾的現象呢?這是本文的主要研究動機。接下來本文將以理論架構來分析臺日關係的這三種矛盾現象,根據功能理論的說法:國家之間在經濟的交流會逐步形成政治的往來,但為何臺日關係卻只限於低層次的經濟議題,而無法提升至高層次的政治議題呢?本文主要論點認為是基於日本國家利益的基本考量,企業利益及經濟利益等因素,讓日本在日中臺三邊關係上逐漸傾向臺灣,但另一方面,由於現實外交利益及日本國內新保守主義因素的制約力量,又將日本拉回日中臺關係的平衡點,這也就是現今臺日關係出現這三種矛盾現象的主要原因。
Since 1996, it appeared three kinds of phenomena existed between Taiwan and Japan. Official visits were frequent but mainly for Congressmen. Business corporations were increased but limited only to deal with Chinese market. And popular exchange visits were intensive but confined only in tourism issues. Why the economic interflow could not escalate it to more political level between Japan and Taiwan? This paper presented argument primarily based on the influence of interests to Japan. The fundamental benefits of nation and business attract Japan toward Taiwan in the triangle relationships among Japan-China-Taiwan. However, the diplomatic benefit and the rise of Neo-conservatism pull it backward to the balance point.