Running to New Guidelines

Both governments of Japan and the United States agreed on revising Guidelines for Security Cooperation by the end of next year. Different from two previous guidelines, the first for dealing with potential threat of the Soviet Union in 1978 and the second for preparing for the contingency in Korean Peninsula, they will determine a set of measures against China. While Japan expects a firm commitment of U.S. enough to deter Chinese proceed to the Pacific Ocean, U.S. looks reluctant to be involved in Sino-Japan dispute over Senkaku Islands. How great the impact of this cooperation on China is still unclear.

The agreement was made in the U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee, often called “two plus two” with attendance of Secretaries of State and Defense of U.S. and Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense of Japan. Unlike precedents of the Committee being held in U.S. cities including Washington, D.C. or Honolulu, it was the first time for it to be convened in Japan. The Japanese officials reasoned it to be a demonstration toward China.

Joint Statement notified concerns against Chinese behavior. “[T]he Ministers continue to encourage China to play a responsible and constructive role in regional stability and prosperity, to adhere international norms of behavior, as well as to improve openness and transparency in its military modernization with its rapid expanding military investments,” says the Statement. In the press conference, Secretary of Defense, Chuck Hagel, said that U.S. would strongly oppose any unilateral or forcible action to erode Japan’s administration of Senkaku.

However, the agreement did not endorse possibly full-fledged military preparation of Japan. Asahi Shimbun reported a story that U.S. did not agree with referring to Japan’s possession of “striking capability of enemy’s bases” in the Joint Statement. That capability would change Japan’s role from having strictly defensive capability to joining striking, not necessarily be offensive, operation. That is what Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, has enthusiastically been seeking.

While their attitude toward the outside is not clearly determined, internal affairs have not well been addressed. Although both governments stressed their efforts to reduce burdens of Okinawa, where 74% of U.S. bases in Japan are located in, the people in Okinawa are still frustrated with the attitude of the governments. Most measures, including admitting entrance to some U.S. bases designated to be returned to Okinawa and fishery in a practice area, are recognized as already taken for granted. Relocation of Futenma Marine Air Base is still up in the air.