An 'enduring' alliance

AN EXTRAORDINARY APOLOGY, which has been tendered by a new U.S. Ambassador to Japan on his arrival in Tokyo this week over an alleged excess by an American serviceman based in Okinawa, may outwardly indicate a crisis in the strong security alliance between the two major economic powers. Yet, the U.S. President, Mr. George W. Bush, and the Japanese Prime Minister, Mr. Junichiro Koizumi, had expressed only last week their concerted resolve to sustain the ``enduring alliance'' between their two countries. The latest undercurrent of diplomatic tensions in the exchanges between Tokyo and Washington pertains entirely to the desire of the Japanese law enforcement agencies to bring a U.S. Air Force sergeant under their jurisdiction prior to his formal indictment on charges of violating the modesty of a young woman in Okinawa. Japan's outspoken Foreign Minister, Ms. Makiko Tanaka, is reported to be upset over the perceived delay by the U.S. in agreeing to hand over the military man in question for the purposes of a judicial process in Okinawa. The residents of Okinawa have often expressed unhappiness over Tokyo's original decision to make over their native neighbourhood to the Americans for their military use under a half-century-old security agreement between the U.S. and Japan. If, in these circumstances, the U.S. is still weighing its options in regard to a sergeant, the reason rests entirely with Washington's eagerness to save as much face as possible by fine-combing the relevant Status of Forces Agreement. This culture-specific document deals with the procedures for such cases relating to alleged crimes of one kind or other involving American military personnel. Since the end of World War II, the U.S. has entered into bilateral understandings with several states that variously agreed to play host to or otherwise welcome American military units as part of an intricate web of international security alliances.

If there is nothing unique about the latest simmering discontent in the Japan-U.S. interactions, the American ``forward presence'' in Japan in the Asia-Pacific region remains a critical aspect of the current international `strategic architecture'. Mr. Bush has not in any manner discounted this `forward presence' even after recently enunciating his preference for a new global security framework. Indeed, Japan's continuing hospitality to the American military establishment has been reaffirmed by Mr. Koizumi during his meeting with Mr. Bush at Camp David last week. The previous U.S. President, Mr. Bill Clinton, had spoken of a certain willingness to consider reducing the American strategic footprint in Okinawa, in particular, over an unspecified timeline. There is no doubt too about Japan's inclination at this stage to balance America's strategic compulsions with its own security concerns in the Asia-Pacific region. Significantly, therefore, Mr. Koizumi is adopting a transparent policy of acting harmoniously with Mr. Bush in this sensitive sphere.

Mr. Koizumi has, in a sense, endorsed Mr. Bush's broad ideas about a missile defence shield. Now, post-imperial Japan obviously feels comfortable with the idea of a defensive strategy as distinct from a military theology of all-out offence. This should explain the ideological basis of Tokyo's readiness to promote Mr. Bush's missile defence plans by contributing to the relevant knowhow-research. Given Japan's oft-repeated desire to play the pacifist, there is also hardly any scope for disagreements between Tokyo and Washington over global-scale ideas about non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and counter-proliferation. However, the Tokyo-Washington nexus is no less critical for the economic and environmental health of the world as a whole. Mr. Bush has now expressed confidence in Mr. Koizumi's arguably bold efforts to fix the macro-level problems facing the Japanese economy, while Mr. Koizumi says he does not wish to give up engaging the U.S. over environmental issues. So, an alternative to the Kyoto protocol is not being envisioned at this stage.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Opinion
Previous : More than trust
Next     : Hysteria, justice and revenge