Embassy of Japan in the United States of America
在アメリカ合衆国日本国大使館

Japan-US Relations: Building on President Obama’s Visit

Japan Forum Chair
CSIS (Center for Strategic & International Studies)

Nov 18, 2010


It had long been almost a set phrase for Ambassadors in both DC and Tokyo to say that our relations have never been better.

A cliché.

Since last fall, we have had some issues—the US base relocation issue, the East Asia Community—you name it.

Some pundits have proclaimed that things have changed and the good old days of Japan-US relations are gone forever.

And now, it seems like those prophets were as correct as they  usually had been.
In short, dead wrong.

After a transitional period, Japan-US relations are not only coming back to the right track. We are also making advances in fields never dreamed of before.  

Last week, I went back to Japan to participate in the bilateral meetings between Prime Minister Kan and President Obama.  Let us look at the three pillars that were discussed between Prime Minister Kan and President Obama: political and security relations, economic field, and cultural and human exchanges.

POLITICAL AND SECURITY RELATIONS

In the meeting with President Obama in Yokohama, Prime Minister Kan said that in relation with China and Russia, Japan has faced some problems, and the United States has supported Japan throughout.

He expressed appreciation to the President for that.

He also stated that for the peace and security of the countries in the region, the presence of the United States and the presence of US military were becoming increasingly important.
In short, the Prime Minister was saying that a friend in need was a friend indeed.

Let me elaborate.

With China, our relations are basically good.

However, of course, there are occasional ups and downs.

The present problem arose when a Japanese Coast Guard patrol vessel ordered a Chinese fishing ship to stop for inspection on September 7.

The latter ship was found engaging in illegal operations within the territorial sea of Japan surrounding the Senkaku Islands.

However, the fishing ship did not listen and instead bumped into the patrol vessel.

Therefore, the Coast Guard had to arrest the captain of the fishing ship on suspicion of obstructing official duties.

From there on, as you know, many things occurred.

Cancellation of exchanges, cancellation of high-level meetings, demonstrations against Japanese shops, etc.

The Japanese Government continued to handle the issue calmly so that the situation would not become overheated nor be swayed by the mounting frustration amongst Japanese nationals.  

After all, China is our neighbor and our biggest trading partner.

Engaging China properly on the world scene is important for us all.

In Yokohama, Prime Minister Kan had talks with President Hu during which the two leaders agreed, among other things, to continue to promote a stable, long term “Mutually Beneficial Relationship based on Common Strategic Interests.”

Taking this opportunity let me tell you our position regarding the Senkaku Islands.

The Senkaku Islands was formally incorporated into Japan in 1895 after having confirmed after thorough surveys that the Islands were uninhabited and that they had never been under the control of any other countries.

This was not contested by either China or Taiwan until around 1970 when UN ESCAP issued a report referring to the possible existence of petroleum resources on the continental shelf of the East China Sea.

As such, the Senkaku Islands are Japanese territory from a historical point of view and in accordance with international law.

Thus we do not believe there exists any territorial dispute.

Japan appreciates the fact that the United States has been very clear on its position.
For example, Secretary Clinton stated that “the Senkaku Islands fall within the scope of Article 5 of the 1960 US-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security.” She further stated that “this is part of the larger commitment that the United States has made to Japan’s security.”

As for Russia, the Northern Territories, which are an integral part of Japan, were seized by the USSR just before Japan’s surrender in WWII.

The US has always supported Japan’s position and has recognized Japanese sovereignty over the Northern Territories.

It was to our dismay that President Medvedev visited one of the Islands just two weeks ago as the first leader of that country to do so after WWII.

It was seen as neither a positive nor friendly act when Japan was handling the above incident with China.

There was a deep disappointment.

The Japanese appreciated that the US came out in support of Japan’s positions.

In Yokohama, Prime Minister Kan met President Medvedev in which Prime Minister stated that the visit was not acceptable and President Medvedev reiterated Russia’s basic position.

They agreed to strengthen the bilateral relationship in wide ranging areas including resolution of the territorial problem and promotion of economic cooperation.

In the security field, we have had some issues to discuss.

The first was the relocation of the US marine base Futenma.

This base is situated in the little island of Okinawa which is in the most southern part of Japan.
Okinawa is one third of the state of Rhode Island and 10% of the island is US bases.

The island remained under US jurisdiction after WWII and was returned to Japan only in 1972.

But many US bases remained in Okinawa even after the reversion.

Now 75% of US bases in Japan is concentrated in this little island.

As for Futenma, after many years, it is now surrounded by a residential area.

It was recognized as being too dangerous by visiting US Secretary of Defense Mr. Rumsfeld as well.

Thus in 2006 a package deal was agreed upon in which Futenma would be relocated to the northern shore of Okinawa and about 8,000 Marines would be relocated from Okinawa to Guam together with 9,000 dependents.

The Guam agreement was signed by Secretary Clinton and the then Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Nakasone in February 2009.

When the new Government of Japan was established in September 2009, it started to review the previous agreement with the cooperation of the US Government.

This was because the party that came into power had been contending that the said base had to be moved out of Okinawa.

There were discussion between the two heads of governments as well as between the foreign ministers and the defense ministers.

It went through a winding road.

Finally, on May 28, the foreign ministers and defense ministers of the two countries, or the so-called 2 plus 2, finally agreed to move the base to the area previously agreed upon.

But by then Okinawa people had become more critical of relocating the base within Okinawa.

It now takes more effort to acquire the understanding of local people.

At the same time, we have to continue to mitigate the burden on Okinawa people and especially on those people near US bases.

After all, US bases are not oxygen.

They are indispensable, but they bring along noise, accidents, and other issues for local residents.

Prime Minister Kan and his Cabinet members have been repeating that they will continue to do their utmost to gain the understanding of the Okinawa people.

This was reiterated in the Yokohama meeting as well.

In some countries, the central government can have its way without consulting the people.

But you know well that in a democracy due process needs time and strenuous efforts. 

In Yokohama, the two leaders agreed on the importance of the US presence in the region.

We are grateful to the service of US men and women in uniform for the peace and stability of the region as well as of the world.

The two leaders agreed on a basic outline for host nation support to US forces in the coming years.

The DPJ, the present government party, was against HNS in the previous Diet deliberation three years ago when it was the opposition.

By the way, Japan has been the number one contributor in the world for host nation support to US forces for many years.

It was also confirmed that the US-Japan alliance was the cornerstone of peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

The two leaders noted that this year marked the 50th anniversary of the present Japan-US Security Arrangements and they agreed to deepen our alliance and to intensify consultation in the next several months.

Cooperation in such fields as Afghanistan, Pakistan, nuclear security, extended deterrence, information security, missile defense, and space is expected in addition to traditional areas of cooperation.

By the way, Japan is currently exploring the possibility of extending its cooperation in the medical area of the Afghanistan Army.

Also, it is to be noted that the President stated that Japan stands as a model of the country the US would like to see as a permanent member of the Security Council.

ECONOMIC FIELD

In Yokohama, the historic “Yokohama Vision” was adopted.

This laid out a pathway for the FTAAP (Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific) to be achieved by 2020 for an economically-integrated Asia-Pacific community.

Japan has done its homework before the APEC meeting.

Japan has experienced an epoch-making turn in its economy.

On November 9, the Government of Japan issued the Basic Policy on Comprehensive Economic Partnership as its Cabinet decision.

It stated that “Japan is falling behind” from “a structural transformation…taking place in the world economy” and that “recognizing this, the Government of Japan is absolutely resolved to open up the country and pioneer a new future.”

It further states that “the Government of Japan, with a view to opening the country will first promote appropriate domestic reforms with respect to areas of the agricultural industry, movement of natural persons from abroad to Japan, and regulatory reforms.”

On EPA, “Japan will play a leading role in actively promoting bilateral EPA within the Asia Pacific region.”

By the way, now Japan has EPA and FTA with ten countries and with ASEAN as a whole as well.

Japan, a firm believer in the WTO, was a late starter of FTA/EPA but decided to follow the world trend as NAFTA completely changed the world FTA scene.

Before NAFTA, FTAs were for smaller countries or for countries proceeding to customs unions.

There had been around only 30 of them.

Now you see more than six times that number.

On TPP, or Trans-Pacific Partnership, it declared that “it is necessary to act through gathering further information, and Japan, while moving expeditiously to improve domestic environment will commence consultations with the TPP member countries.”  

It further stated that “the Government of Japan, while taking into consideration the sensitivity of trade in certain products, will subject all goods to negotiation for trade liberalization.”

One Minister of Trade in the region, who happens to be a friend of mine, told me personally that he thought this was the most important statement coming out of Japan in a quarter of a century.  

True, this was produced after a heated debate within Japan.

Prime Minister Kan explained the above-mentioned Basic Policy, and President Obama supported the Prime Minister.

He stated that he very much welcomed Japan’s interest in liberalizing trade and promotion of domestic reforms.

He also welcomed Japan’s interests in the TPP (Trans Pacific Partnership).

The two leaders agreed that the two governments would be closely consulting on these matters in the months to come. This agreement was confirmed between Foreign Minister Maehara and Ambassador Kirk the following day.

The two leaders also agreed on the “Economic Harmonization Initiative,” the “APEC Energy-Smart Communities Initiative,” and the “Japan-US Clean Energy Policy Dialogue.”

CULTURAL AND HUMAN EXCHANGES

The third pillar is cultural and human exchanges.

Japan-US relations have four key elements.

First, long standing security relations. This year is the 50th commemoration of our present security arrangements.

Second, economic and global partnership.

We cooperate with each other in many fields including the environment and energy.

We are the top two contributors to the reconstruction of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq.

Third, we share common values such as democracy, human rights and freedom of speech. As President Obama addressed in his speech at the UN General Assembly in September, I would like to emphasize that his visit to Asia was a visit to “thriving democracies,” which concluded in Japan, “an ancient culture that found peace and extraordinary development through democracy.”

Fourth, the fact that people like each other. In recent polls 80% of Americans and 80% of Japanese say that they like each other and trust each other.

There are not too many other two countries that have these relations.

This is a very special relationship.

In order to maintain and further such relations, promotion of mutual understanding plays a key role.

And for that, Japan believes human and cultural exchanges must be enhanced.

In short, inviting more American youth to Japan.

Facilitating Japanese students to study in the US.

Sending to the US , both Japanese language teachers and English language teachers from Japan.

I have to hasten to add that the latter will be sent not to teach English language here but to brush up their English skills so that students in Japan can learn better English.

Prime Minister Kan, after his summit meeting with President Obama, officially announced an initiative to strengthen the exchange for further deepening the Japan-U.S. alliance. 

Its five-year goal is several thousand exchanges.

 
The following are some examples:

• to continue the JET Program with constant review to improve the program.
• to send young Japanese English language teachers to the US as I mentioned above. This initiative will contribute not only to improving the English capability of young Japanese but also to opening their eyes to the outside world through their teachers’ first-hand experiences in the US.
• to send young Japanese language teachers to the US.
• to promote exchanges among universities.
• to send young Japanese science scholars and researchers to the   US.

Furthermore, as many of you here know well, 2012 is the centennial anniversary of the gift of cherry blossom trees from the people of Japan to the people of the United States. 

We think this will be a great occasion to enhance our cultural relations as well.

CONCLUSION

The most important result of the Yokohama meeting was that President Obama invited Prime Minister Kan to visit the US in the first half of next year.

The two leaders agreed to closely cooperate so that they can issue a joint statement which will cover a broad range of issues and lay out a joint vision.

So this is no time to say we had a wonderful visit and take a rest.

We are ready to roll up our sleeves and start working.

Please do help us—give us ideas.

I thank you in advance.

Coverage at CSIS