Japan - US Relations, February 2010

Hideo Yanai

Hideo Yanai
Tokyo, Japan
February 4, 2010

Report from the field: Japan - U.S. Relations

Japan is America's most important ally in East Asia. Relations between the two countries saw a few rough spots, but were generally quite close when the center-right Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) was in power in Japan. However, the relations between the United States and Japan have been strained since the general election in August 2009, an election in which the leftist Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) took power from the LDP and Yukio Hatoyama, the DPJ leader, became prime minister.

Hatoyama reneged on the U.S.-Japan agreement to relocate Okinawa's Futenma U.S. Marine Air Station to another town in the prefecture. Instead, Hatoyama said he would re-negotiate with the U.S. and look for another area of relocation for the air base. In addition, he discontinued the refueling operation by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (navy) in the Indian Ocean for coalition vessels of Operation Enduring Freedom. The Japanese operation had been successful and highly appreciated by the coalition nations, including the U.S., the U.K., Germany, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, all of which had requested Tokyo to continue the operation. The end of the Japanese operation damaged the coalition and Japan's own global interests.

Hatoyama must certainly realize how mistaken he has been in his initial dealings with the United States. The Futenma issue must be solved expeditiously and relations between the two countries should be strengthened. The two countries share the values of liberal democracy and the rule of law. The Japan-U.S. alliance has made the Pacific region peaceful and prosperous for more than 50 years. A strong Japan-U.S. alliance can help address many of the global challenges of the twenty-first century.