Editorial
Hatoyama should express his vision for Japan-U.S. security arrangement
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the current Japan-U.S. Security Treaty. Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and U.S. President Barack Obama agreed in November last year that they will go ahead with discussions aimed at deepening the bilateral alliance.
Undoubtedly, the Japan-U.S. alliance has formed the foundation for the prosperity of Japan in the post-war period. It will serve Japan's national interests to maintain and strengthen its relations with the United States, with which it shares common values such as freedom and democracy. The Hatoyama administration has stated that the Japan-U.S. alliance is the axis of Japan's diplomatic policy.
The Japan-U.S. security arrangement was redefined once 14 years ago, aiming to increase security in the Asia-Pacific region.
However, discussions aimed at deepening the bilateral alliance have been stalled due to Tokyo's postponement of a final decision on and confusion over the relocation of U.S. Air Station Futenma in Okinawa Prefecture, despite Hatoyama's attempt to split the issue from Tokyo's efforts to promote bilateral ties.
Hatoyama's stance on the Futenma relocation issue has puzzled U.S. government officials. The United States greeted the New Year with mounting distrust of, concern over and disappointment with the Hatoyama administration.
If distrust in and disappointment at the Hatoyama administration prevail in the U.S. administration, it will inevitably adversely affect the bilateral alliance. It is naive to fear that the Futenma issue will lead immediately to the collapse of the Japan-U.S. alliance. However, there is no denying that if the prime minister repeats his ill-considered remarks about the issue, it could eventually lead to a hollowing out of the bilateral alliance.
Prime Minister Hatoyama told President Obama in their summit talks last year that he hopes to deepen the alliance in not only the security field -- such as increased deterrence, protection of secret information, missile defense and space development -- but also new fields. He then cited disaster prevention, medicine, education and the environment as the new target fields.
Since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, the threat of international terrorism has become realistic. The attacks revealed that terrorist organizations could spread weapons of mass destruction. It has become more important than ever to respond to poverty, civil war, and ethnic and religious conflicts, which are the hotbeds for new threats to security, as well as to the worsening global environment and famine that could cause further poverty, among other global issues.
Not enough attention has been paid to these non-traditional security issues. In recent years, however, these issues have drawn attention as new threats and potential crises, and it has been pointed out measures should be taken to prevent these potential threats from emerging.
Nevertheless, it would be inappropriate to place emphasis only on these issues. It is unrealistic to discuss only such non-traditional security issues while confronting threats posed by North Korea and others. Traditional approaches to clear and present threats should not be undervalued.
The redefinition of the Japan-U.S. security arrangement in the 1990s developed into a Japan-U.S. joint declaration on security, and was completed when the guidelines for Japan-U.S. defense cooperation were adopted. Based on these guidelines, the Diet enacted the law to allow the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) to extend logistical support to U.S. forces in case of a military attack surrounding Japan. Since then, the SDF's activities have been expanded. At the same time, the government has allowed the SDF to engage in logistical support only in non-combat zones, thereby avoided arguments over whether or not such missions constitute the exercise of the right of collective self-defense that the war-renouncing Constitution is interpreted as banning.
The pros and cons of the exercise of the right of collective self-defense will undoubtedly be one focus of discussions when the Hatoyama administration considers stepping up Japan-U.S. defense cooperation and promoting the missile defense program led by the United States.
The prime minister is Japan's manager of the Japan-U.S. alliance. He is obligated to deepen and develop the alliance. He should be aware that his qualifications as Japan's leader are being tested.
(Mainichi Japan) January 9, 2010