Increasing the Importance of Alliance Reconstruction

China is trending heavily toward a firm, one-sided attitude, aimed at things like territorial expansion and its oceanic rights and interests. In order to avoid a situation where Asia’s peace and safety are being harmed, it is essential that the U.S.-Japanese alliance be reconstructed more solidly.

Prime Minister Kan and President Obama had a discussion, and in connection to the Chinese fishing boat collision in the seas by the Senkaku Islands, both Japan and the U.S. are keeping watch over China’s actions. They also agreed to maintain close ties. The idea is that this U.S.-Japanese alliance will be a foundation for peace and safety in Japan, America, Asia and the world.

Given China’s unyielding stance regarding the Senkaku Islands problem, many have suggested that China is doing this to poke at the gap in the strained relationship between Japan and the U.S.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao had a discussion with President Obama, but he also invited Secretary of Defense Gates to China, which gives the appearance that China aims to divide the U.S.-Japanese alliance.

To that extent, the significance of both Japan’s and America’s leaders confirming the importance of the Japanese-American cooperation in relationship to China is considerable.

At the U.S.-Japanese foreign minister conference, which preceded the leadership conference, Secretary of State Clinton clearly stated that Article 5 of the Mutual Security Treaty applies to the Senkaku Islands.

In the past, there have been American high officials who hold ambiguous standpoints on the issue of the U.S.’ duty to defend the Senkaku Islands. The secretary of state’s reaffirmation of this duty can mean nothing but support at Japan’s side.

Of course, the fishing boat accident is a diplomacy issue between China and Japan, but in order to avoid a repeat of the same situation, the U.S.-Japanese alliance is strengthening.

However, since the U.S.-Japanese relationship has continued to stray since last year’s inauguration of a Democratic administration, from now on we cannot be optimistic.

At the conference, Prime Minister Kan openly made an allusion to local opposition by using the expression “the difficult Okinawa problem” when referring to the issue of the relocation of Futenma air base, and that the goal of advancing the U.S.-Japanese agreement, reached in May, of relocating the air base to Nago City in Okinawa is not holding up.

Although the alliance-building work will continue as the November visit of the American president approaches, there still has not been any progress in the U.S.-Japanese negotiations, which must be resolved within the year, on the cost of stationing U.S. troops.

Prime Minister Kan has also brought up three pillars in strengthening U.S.-Japanese relations: security, economics and culture/human networking. Kan has his eye on using a “combination technique,” like in judo, as a last resort if security goals cannot be reached.

In a speech during the first 10 days of September, Secretary Clinton named South Korea, Japan and Australia as Asian allies. Japan and South Korea have switched from their traditional spots in that lineup. It is true that America has recently placed importance on South Korea, and this should not be ignored.

In order for Japan to continue being an ally that America can trust, it must fulfill its existing duties and then some. And even with difficult problems, such as Futenma, it must accurately produce results.