Japan seeks economic competitiveness vis-a-vis the West and economic dominance in Asia, but it mainly competes through cooperative use of economic resources, which facilitates realization of the goals of partner nations. This book studies Japan''s balance between the United States and East Asia by focusing on the use of economic power - defense spending, consumption, and investment - to advance Japan''s political and strategic as well as economic interests. It also investigates Japan''s direct use of economic resources, namely, aid and sanctions, and by extension, discusses Japan''s relations with the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank.