Japan-U.S. Relations: Issues for the 107th Congress (Congressional Research Service)

Japan-U.S. Relations: Issues for the 107th Congress

Congressional Research Service Report for Congress

....The United States has long worked
closely with Japan to build a strong, multifaceted
relationship based on shared democratic
values and mutual interest in Asian and global
stability and development. Although the Bush
Administration came into office with an
avowed determination to promote closer
alliance relations, the failure of the government
headed by Prime Minister Junichiro
Koizumi’s inability to overcome economic
stagnation that has lasted more than a decade
has started to lower U.S. regard for a country
which still remains an important military ally.
U.S.-Japan relations concern Members
and Committees with responsibilities or interests
in trade and international finance and
economics, U.S. foreign policy, ballistic
missile defense (BMD), and regional security.
The latter include North Korea’s nuclear and
missile proliferation, China’s potential emergence
as the dominant regional military power,
and U.S. military bases in Japan, whose
importance has been underscored once again
by their role in facilitating the operations of
U.S. forces in Afghanistan and will likely also
be important if war with Iraq ensues.
In October 2001 the Koizumi
government gained parliamentary passage of
legislation permitting the despatch of Japanese
ships and transport aircraft to the Indian
Ocean to provide rear-area logistical support
to U.S. forces engaged in the anti-terrorist
campaign in Afghanistan. This was achieved
despite constitutional objections from both
within and outside of the ruling Liberal Democratic
Party (LDP)-led coalition. Because of
a constitutional ban on military action not
strictly for self-defense, Japanese ships and
aircraft were restricted to non-combat support.
In May 2002 the Koizumi government
extended the authority for another six months.
Due to its own concerns about North
Korean ballistic missiles and a rising China,
Tokyo has started to bolster its self-defense
capabilities even as it increases cooperation
with the United States under revised defense
cooperation guidelines agreed to in September
1997. Japan is also participating in joint
research and development of a ballistic missile
defense capability, but has not made a decision
about acquisition or deployment.....

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