Editorial
After 50 years, U.S. and Japan need a diversified approach to strengthening security alliance
Tuesday marks the 50th anniversary of the current Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, and the Japanese and U.S. governments are set to release a joint statement and start a fresh round of consultations aimed at strengthening the bilateral alliance.
The core of the Japan-U.S. alliance is defense cooperation; and the role of the security treaty, on which the bilateral alliance is based, has changed in response to the times.
The old security treaty, which was signed in 1951, recognized Japan as the rear base for U.S. troops fighting in the Korean War. In exchange, the treaty allowed Japan to concentrate on its economic recovery, while relying on the United States for security.
As the Cold War continued between the U.S.-led Western bloc and the Communist bloc led by the Soviet Union, the security environment in East Asia was also undergoing changes, such as the China-Taiwan crisis in the 1950s and the worsening situation in Vietnam.
In Japan, the political situation was stabilized by the establishment of the so-called 1955 political order, characterized by the conflict between the then ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the Japan Socialist Party -- which also marked the beginning of the country's rapid economic growth. The current Japan-U.S. Security Treaty was signed several years later in 1960. An anti-Soviet and anti-China military alliance, it also allowed U.S. forces to use Japan as a base for the Vietnam War.
However, the end of the Cold War in 1989 and the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 forced Japan and the United States to review the arrangement. The Japan-U.S. Joint Declaration on Security in 1996 described the Japan-U.S. security arrangement as in the public good for maintaining stability in the Asia-Pacific region. Following the declaration, Japan enacted legislation that allows the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) to extend logistical support to U.S. forces. In the wake of the terrorist attacks in the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, Japan further expanded the SDF's overseas activities.
The Japan-U.S. security arrangement was undoubtedly military-oriented during the Cold War era. However, there is no denying that the arrangement guaranteed peace and stability in Japan and allowed the country to enjoy prosperity. Developing Japan's alliance with the United States -- with which it shares common values such as freedom and democracy -- will contribute to Japan's national interests.
The resolution of the issue relating to the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa Prefecture, which is the stumbling block to the promotion of bilateral ties, is prerequisite for such efforts.
The security environment around Japan has drastically changed over the 20-year period following the end of the Cold War. North Korea has repeated nuclear tests and test-firing of ballistic missiles, posing a serous threat to Japan. China, which is wielding growing influence on the international community, has continued its military buildup largely in the dark. As a result, military deterrence is still effective and necessary.
Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, international terrorism has also become an important issue for the world. The international community is required to respond to poverty and ethnic conflicts that are hotbeds for international terrorism, and deal with environmental problems and famine, which cause poverty, as new security issues.
It is important to develop both military and non-military aspects of the bilateral security arrangement in a well-balanced manner. Prior to bilateral consultations, the administration of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama should show vision on deepening the bilateral alliance in a multi-layered way to achieve this goal.
(Mainichi Japan) January 19, 2010