Relaciones bilaterales Japón-Chile (1990-1997): contra la incertidumbre, la alianza estratégica

Abstract

espanolEl objetivo de este articulo es entender y explicar los factores que impulsaron que una potencia economica como Japon propusiera una alianza estrategica a Chile en 1994. La hipotesis es que la estabilidad economica chilena de los noventas y la oportunidad japonesa de acceder a las economias del MERCOSUR impulsaron esta alianza. Sin embargo, la crisis economica del Este asiatico de 1997, que promovio el reemplazo de Japon por China como mercado para la exportacion latinoamericana en Asia, interfirio para que esta idea no se concretara en su diseno original. Para ello se construyo un patron de jerarquizacion de visitas entre ambos paises que evidencio la brecha entre la agenda de politica exterior y los intereses del empresariado chileno. EnglishThis paper aims to understand and explain the factors that prompted an economic powerhouse like Japan to propose a strategic alliance with Chile in 1994. The hypothesis is that Chilean financial stability in the 1990s and an opportunity for the Japanese to access the MERCOSUR economies were the factors that drove this alliance. However, the impact of the Asian financial crisis in 1997, which led Japan to be replaced by China as the primary market for Latin American exports in Asia, prevented this idea from materializing as it was originally meant to. In response, a series of high-level official visits took place between the countries, which highlighted the gap between Chile’s foreign policy agenda and the interests of the country’s business sector.