Michele Flournoy: U.S.-Japan alliance a cornerstone in a complex world

Michele, I am sorry to say this. With Japanese public debts amounting to 218 percent of gross domestic product at the end of 2009, you need to think about the alleviation of Japan's financial burdens for the costs of maintaining American troops in Japan. Cheers, Kosuke



POINT OF VIEW/ Michele Flournoy: U.S.-Japan alliance a cornerstone in a complex world

SPECIAL TO THE ASAHI SHIMBUN

2010/07/16

As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the U.S.-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security, we should all take a moment to appreciate the critical contributions the alliance has made to the international community.

There have been many challenges over the last 50 years, and there are bound to be more in the future. But the alliance has shown that it is mature, strong and enduring.

The American and the Japanese people have never lost sight of the shared values, democratic ideals and common interest in peace, stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region that make for an unshakable alliance.

As President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Naoto Kan recently affirmed at the Group of 20 summit in Toronto, the U.S.-Japan alliance continues to be indispensable not only for the defense of Japan, but also for the peace and prosperity of the entire Asia-Pacific region.

The positive value of the U.S.-Japan alliance is not lost on other countries in the region; the enduring presence of U.S. forces in Japan is the bedrock for prosperity in the region.

The continued U.S. presence provides deterrence against acts of aggression and reassures other nations in the region. This presence, and the benefits it provides, is supported by significant Japanese financial contributions. This financial support is essential to the ability of the United States to maintain some of the most advanced military capabilities in the world in Japan. Japan's contribution also supports the U.S. service members prepared to risk their lives in defense of Japan and peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region.
In addition to providing deterrence in a still uncertain region, the presence of U.S. forces allows the United States and Japan to respond to humanitarian and natural disasters and to save lives.

With close logistics and operational support from Japan, U.S. forces quickly responded to crises such as the 2009 typhoons in the Philippines, the 2008 Cyclone Nargis in Burma (Myanmar) and the 2007 Cyclone Sidra in Bangladesh. Japanese Self-Defense Forces (SDF) are increasingly deploying alongside their American partners to address humanitarian challenges in the region, as they did in responding to the 2004 tsunami. For example, earlier this year, Japan deployed the SDF via U.S. mainland bases to provide critical relief to Haiti following that devastating earthquake. The U.S. Navy and Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) have conducted humanitarian civil assistance activities in Cambodia and Vietnam as part of the PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP 2010 operation. Going forward, humanitarian assistance/disaster relief cooperation will provide countless opportunities for the U.S.-Japan alliance to contribute to the welfare of the region and the world.

The United States and Japan also cooperate closely to ensure that every nation has the right to freedom of navigation and access to open sea lanes, thereby providing for the safety of mariners and the security of trade in and out of the region. The JMSDF and the U.S. Navy work hand-in-hand to respond to the recent proliferation of pirate attacks on shipping in and around vital sea lanes, especially off the Horn of Africa.

Japan and the United States are partnering to contribute significant resources to building peace and stability in some of the most war-torn places in the world. For example, in Afghanistan and Pakistan, we are cooperating to implement reconstruction and stabilization measures.

Over the next 50 years, the United States and Japan look forward to deepening our level of cooperation on other issues as well, particularly in the area of regional missile defense.

Japan's decision to invest in advanced AEGIS destroyers, upgrade its Patriot missile battalion, and cooperate with the United States on a next generation of missile defense systems, underscores a firm commitment to enhancing regional deterrence.

The United States and Japan will look to grow our partnership in the areas of space and cyber cooperation. As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, we recognize the need to strengthen our cooperation under the alliance to promote the security of the global commons, including space and cyberspace.

As we move into the future, we will also look to develop new programs for cooperation, like "Green Alliance" initiatives, which aim to promote the use of environmentally friendly technology on Guam and Japan. We also aim to enhance cultural exchanges, education programs and research partnerships.

It is often said that the strength of any relationship can be measured by how well it manages challenges, conflicts and crises. Over the past 50 years, the U.S.-Japan alliance has endured all three and emerged stronger and ready to address the challenges of the 21st century.

Whether it is working to secure the sea lanes of maritime trade, addressing the challenges posed by the potential spread of weapons of mass destruction, or responding to an increasing array of humanitarian and disaster relief crises around the globe, the U.S.-Japan alliance remains a security cornerstone in a complex world.

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The author is the U.S. undersecretary of defense for policy.