John Kerry / Special to The Daily Yomiuri
Last week, the United States and Japan celebrated the 50th anniversary of an alliance that has been the linchpin of peace and prosperity in Asia. But those celebrations have been muted: Japan's recent democratic growing pains have raised serious questions about where the alliance is headed.
At issue is a long-running but--until recently--little-known dispute over a U.S. Marine helicopter facility in Okinawa Prefecture. In 2006, the United States and Japan agreed to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station to a less crowded part of Okinawa. Now, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's new government is hedging on whether it will follow through.
Why does this matter? The Futenma facility is a critical helicopter staging ground for U.S. marines to respond to potential hot spots in East Asia. Along with compromising its vital mission, any delay in the move could jeopardize other important aspects of the 2006 U.S.-Japan agreement--including the transfer of 8,000 marines from Okinawa to Guam. These steps were designed to reduce the burden on the people of Okinawa, and better position the alliance to meet East Asia' evolving security challenges.
What's more, the Futenma question is just one factor feeding the perception of an alliance adrift. Japan has decided to end naval refueling for allied warships supporting peacekeeping efforts in Afghanistan, and its leaders have made statements about embracing a more "Asia-centric" foreign policy.
The tussle over Futenma can and should serve as a wake-up call to both countries: Alliances don't tend to themselves. Both sides need to ensure that this one doesn't go off track.
Job one is for both countries to focus on core alliance goals: defending Japan and preserving peace and security across East Asia. But in the 51st year of our alliance, we must also begin re-imagining its global role and missions. The partnership remains strong, deep and resilient--grounded in common interests and values. It has withstood tougher challenges before and emerged just as strong. Now we must adapt it to confront emerging challenges.
The center-left Democratic Party of Japan's electoral victory, ending a half-century of nearly uninterrupted rule by the Liberal Democratic Party, has raised questions about the nature, scope and ground rules of our military alliance. That can be an asset if we engage in serious dialogue to make it even stronger and more durable. That in turn demands that leaders in both countries keep the stakes in perspective, and show the patient statesmanship necessary to navigate changes in Japan and its neighborhood.
In the near term, both sides need to contain the potential damage from the Okinawa imbroglio. After years of negotiations, America is understandably reluctant to revisit such a strategically important basing decision. But we should recognize that the Japanese government's ability to maneuver is limited by campaign promises made by the DPJ, Okinawan and national elections this year, and the fractious politics of Prime Minister Hatoyama's ruling coalition.
As Washington knows too well, democracy can be messy. This is a moment to give Japan a little breathing room. We should quietly look for solutions that address Okinawa's concerns while continuing to honor the spirit of past agreements.
Prime Minister Hatoyama has assured America that the alliance remains the foundation of Japanese foreign policy and expressed a desire for a more equal partnership, not for less cooperation.
Japanese foreign policy may be entering a new era, but that need not be a threat to us. We should welcome Japanese steps to take on greater responsibility in alliance management. And closer relations with China, South Korea and other East Asian countries--another Hatoyama priority--can help stabilize the region in a way that benefits America and facilitates China's peaceful development. It may also encourage Japan to finally tackle the tough historical issues that have undermined past attempts at reconciliation with its neighbors.
Finally, America and the world need Japan to remain a key player in global problem-solving. Japan's past contributions have sometimes been taken for granted or overshadowed by concerns over its economic slowdown, aging population, or rising public debt. And yet, despite these constraints, Japan has been a prominent force for the greening of our planet, a leading financial contributor to stability and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan and Pakistan, a generous donor to multilateral institutions and the developing world, and a respected leader on nonproliferation.
We have our differences today, and we will go forward. But we cannot let short-term blips overshadow what our two countries can accomplish together.
Japan is changing, and so is its neighborhood. How we jointly respond to these changes will determine whether the next 50 years of the U.S.-Japan alliance will be as successful as the last.
Sen. Kerry, D-Mass., is the chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
(Jan. 30, 2010)
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