0001195 - The Evolving US-Japan Relationship J Thomas...

Spring 2008 The Ambassadors REVIEW
24
The Evolving US-Japan Relationship
J. Thomas Schieffer
United States Ambassador to Japan
United States Ambassador to Australia, 2001-2005
n the first years of the 21
st
century a profound change has occurred in the US-
Japan relationship. We have moved beyond the security and economic
paradigm of the Cold War to understand the global opportunities presented by
our strategic partnership. The US-Japan alliance has long been the cornerstone of
American foreign policy in the Pacific and remains so today. Both the United States and
Japan recognize that the positioning of US forces on Japanese soil reassures the region and
deters potential aggressors so that peace and security can be maintained. More and more,
the United States and Japan also recognize that their strong and active partnership can meet
other global challenges as well.
Over the past decade we have seen unprecedented cooperation between our two
countries. Japan has made concrete contributions in the struggle against international
terrorism through its support for coalition operations in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Its deep
involvement in fostering stronger regional approaches to challenges like nuclear prolifera-
tion of the Korean peninsula has been very helpful to building a more stable, peaceful
North East Asia. Japan also has joined the United States in humanitarian and
reconstruction efforts like the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. Together we are supplying
almost $1.5 billion in aid and are providing expertise to help victims rebuild their lives.
We also are working with Japan in areas of global concern that range from the prevention
of pandemic avian influenza to promoting sustainable economic development in Africa and
Asia. Japan’s experience, technological prowess, and proven advances in energy efficiency
and greenhouse gas reductions will be an advantage to both of us as we try to develop a
new international consensus on climate change. The United States and other countries will
be depending on Japan to exercise further global leadership this summer when it hosts the
G-8 Summit in July and, in two years, the Leaders Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC) forum.
The evolutionary trend toward a stronger bilateral relationship is evidenced in
many places. Our security alliance with Japan, for example, is undergoing a major
transformation. The planned realignment of US bases will create a more streamlined,
sustainable “footprint” that can ensure an enduring US presence. Beyond just the stationing