The Future of U.S.-Japan Relations

By U.S. Ambassador to Japan John V. Roos

Contributed to the second issue of Gaiko (Diplomacy) magazine published in October 2010 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Posted on this site with permission of Gaiko.

As U.S. Ambassador to Japan, I'm honored to have this opportunity to comment on the future of the U.S.-Japan relationship. From my perspective, our two countries have forged a remarkable partnership that has paved the way for even greater cooperation in the years to come. I am optimistic about our future, and I look forward to all of the exciting possibilities that lie ahead of us.

As is well known, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan. Of course, the relationship between our two countries goes back much farther than 50 years. Indeed, when I'm asked to comment on the future of U.S.-Japan relations, I am often reminded of how far we have come since the first contact between our two peoples. When Commodore Matthew Perry arrived in Japan in 1853, one striking feature of his interaction with Japanese officials was the mutual lack of information about the other side. That Perry and his Japanese counterparts were forced to communicate via a third language - Dutch - simply underscores the fact that there was no common denominator between them, no common bonds that united them. From that rather difficult beginning, surely Perry in his day could not have imagined the deep and comprehensive partnership that we have since established between our two countries.

One of the reasons that I am so optimistic about the future of our relationship is that I have seen firsthand the tremendous investment of effort by so many individuals on both sides of the Pacific in maintaining and strengthening our bilateral ties. Some of these efforts are quite visible - for example, it was a Japanese prime minister who was the first foreign leader to meet with President Obama in the White House, and both the President and Secretary of State Clinton made Japan the first stop on their inaugural visits to Asia.

But there are countless other efforts that fly under the radar, from the daily communication between U.S. officials and their Japanese counterparts, to long-established educational exchanges such as the Fulbright program, to initiatives such as the monumentally successful Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) program, which has provided thousands of Americans and Japanese with the opportunity to learn about and from each other. New people-topeople linkages are being created every day. Our Little League baseball teams compete against each other on a yearly basis; our astronauts work together on the International Space Station; our scientists and entrepreneurs work together to develop innovative and effective clean energy strategies from Okinawa to Hawaii and beyond. It is vital that we continue to work together to further strengthen and develop these types of educational, cultural, and scientific exchanges.

Yet another reason for optimism about our future revolves around our bilateral economic relationship. Across a wide range of sectors - from agriculture to health care to finance to telecommunications – the trans-Pacific business between our two countries is flourishing. Furthermore, I believe there is a vast, untapped reservoir of technological innovation and entrepreneurship in Japan, and by unlocking that potential we can create an even brighter future for our industries and businesspeople

Of course, no discussion of the future of the U.S.-Japan relationship would be complete without referencing our indispensable security alliance. During his visit to Tokyo last November, President Obama stated that“the Alliance between the United States and Japan is a foundation for security and prosperity not just for our two countries but for the Asia Pacific region.” Under the 2006 U.S.-Japan Realignment Roadmap, both countries agreed to a series of changes that will help create a strong, sustainable U.S. military presence in the region while simultaneously minimizing the footprint of that presence on base-hosting communities in Japan, particularly in Okinawa Prefecture. These changes are designed to help our two countries adapt in the face of evolving security challenges. And make no mistake: recent events, including the attack on the South Korean naval vessel Cheonan, should remind us all of the critical importance of the U.S.-Japan alliance.

North Korea's ballistic missile and nuclear programs remain the most immediate concern, and the risks of proliferation and the possibility of regime collapse pose huge security challenges. But there are other challenges that have the potential to affect regional security and stability, including piracy on vital sea lanes, maritime territorial disputes, and the provocative actions of extremist groups. Unanticipated developments and unforeseen crises will undoubtedly surface, and we and our partners in the region should maintain the readiness to address them.

Fortunately, we have already begun laying the groundwork to prepare for these contingencies. Japan and the United States are cooperating not just bilaterally, but also regionally and globally. Japan's Self-Defense Forces are assisting with rescue operations in flood-stricken Pakistan, earthquake relief in Haiti, and anti-piracy efforts off the Horn of Africa. The Government of Japan recently announced new sanctions on Iran that go beyond UN Security Council Resolution 1929, an important and very welcome addition to the international community's united effort to combat proliferation and prevent Tehran's development of nuclear weapons. Our two countries are working together to find solutions to urgent global issues ranging from climate change to the rebuilding of Afghanistan.

I am under no illusions that there will not be periods of ups-and-downs in the relationship. But I am absolutely confident that the ties between our two countries will continue to evolve and grow. Our future relationship will thrive because the United States and Japan share the core values of freedom, a commitment to human rights, and building a better world for all of our citizens. Our future relationship will thrive because our strong alliance ensures prosperity and security throughout the region and the globe, and because each country is better off with this enduring partnership than without it.

This past year has been an incredible opportunity to look back and reflect upon all that has been accomplished in the last 50 years between our two nations. I am grateful for the fact that, when I meet the leaders and citizens of Japan, our communication no longer highlights that which divides us, but rather reinforces the common bonds that unite us today, and will continue to unite us in the future.