石原慎太郎是當代日本民族主義政治家的要角，但他追求「正常國家」的論述仍離不開戰前日本以「中國」為參照點，俾能超越亞洲、與西洋大國平起平坐的問題意識。本文整理石原慎太郎的從政歷程以及他對於美國、中國的各種批評，認為他的國際關係圖式帶有大正昭和年間日本由「脫亞」轉回「興亞」，期望共興亞洲以抗歐美的色彩；但由於當代中國的崛起，使石原慎太郎無法效法戰前右翼收編中國，反而徘徊在歐亞之間，對日本的位置更趨困惑。

Widely known for his nationalistic view of Japan’s international status, Ishihara Shintaro is commonly considered the most eminent character among Japan’s right wing politicians. This article reviews his comments on Japan’s history and foreign relation and examines his deeper motivation to resist US and China so as to ensure Japan’s status as a modern, civilized nation-state. In doing so, the linkage between Ishihara’s ideology and that of the Japanese intellectuals before World War Two is unveiled: both try to depreciate China while enabling Japan to challenge the West as Asia’s leader. However, contemporary China’s rise makes it impossible to disdain China as Ishihara’s predecessors have done, and thus his critique is trapped in a different dilemma.