'Japanese-American Alliance': Now a Chess Piece in Japan's Hand

On Sept. 25, Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo delivered a speech in New York. His statement that “if everyone wants to call me a right-wing militarist, that’s fine with me”* momentarily attracted the attention of the entire media. In actuality, Abe does not really care whether he is a rightist; he is much more interested in reassuring the United States, so that he might once again receive practical benefits from the hand of America.

During this speech at the United Nations, Abe had two main selling points. The first was to continue to promote “Abe-economics” and propagandize to the world that Japan has “returned,” thus making his appeal for everyone’s investment. The other selling point was to lift the prohibition on collective self-defense and, in so doing, to prettify the constitution and win international favor.

More than the “Abe-economics” catchphrase, some actual effective healing is what everybody really wants to see. Whether a short-term stimulus plan will be able to bring about long-term economic stability and growth is still unknown. When it comes to lifting the prohibition on collective self-defense, Japan is putting forward the exact same justifications that led to America’s weakness.

One of the most fundamental reasons why Japan is not able to become a fully sovereign country is that its national defense and military policy is unable to stand independently; America is its greatest obstacle. During the Cold War period, although the U.S.-Japan alliance relieved Japan of its security worries, it also put a cap on the development of Japanese military forces.

Over the past several years, circumstances have begun to change. As China’s strength has grown unceasingly, America has gradually shifted the focus of its strategy from Europe to the Asia-Pacific region. But because its oppositional strength has declined, America wants to believe that in the Asia-Pacific region it has completely achieved its ends. This, however, is not at all the case. Indeed, this only signifies that the extent of America’s reliance on its allies has deepened even more. And among America’s allies in the Asia-Pacific region, Japan’s military capacities are second to none.

As a result, the scales of the U.S.-Japan alliance are beginning to tilt. Several top American officials have announced their hopes of drawing closer to the Japanese. Just this month, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell indicated that in practice, the officials of the U.S. Department of Defense, the White House and the Department of State (i.e., those who bear responsibility for defense and security) are in favor of the expansion of Japan’s efforts and capabilities and strongly believe that this is a crucial step forward. Against the backdrop of the unceasing growth of China’s military strength, it is only proper that Japan upgrade its own military capabilities.

Abe’s speech at the United Nations is clearly a response to the Americans. But compared to America by its high-profile speeches, Japan is searching for much more international approval to justify lifting the prohibition on collective self-defense. Within Abe’s carefully packaged speech, the aim behind amending the constitution has already turned Japan into “a country that actively contributes to world peace and stability”* and an “actively pacifist state.”* Even now, when the United States and Japan echo one another’s speech, it is not hard to see that the “U.S.-Japan alliance” has become just a chess piece for Japan to use as it will.

Although the threshold before an amendment to the constitution is great, Abe has seized upon America’s weakness; this has made the extent to which he is under international pressure less than clear. Moreover, domestically, a successful Olympic bid and economic improvements have greatly reduced the number of obstacles that might keep him from carrying out rightist policy changes.

One could say that Abe’s current “strength” and “cleverness” are provoking a mood of increased security worries in neighboring countries and are pushing the security of Asia toward the development of dangerous and unknown territory. But the United States and Japan will never be wholly of one mind, even if they appear to be united in this one instance. The Japanese will be patient for a few years, but in truth they want to get something clear and straight.

In the past, present and future, America’s strength always means that it takes the greatest responsibility for the stability of the Asian states. Although the postwar order had its flaws, it successfully preserved a cornerstone of peace and stability in Asia. In response to the rise of Asia, the United States has made a precise evaluation: Its strategy is not to toy with the balance of power; instead, it is steered by rationalism. Since no one can predict the outcome of such a course of action, even America will not be spared.

*Editor’s note: The original quotation, accurately translated, could not be verified. However, similar quotations have appeared in the media.