The U.S.-Japan relationship remains central to regional and global security. Today, the key challenge for alliance managers is using their assets in new and creative ways. With a new approach, our nations can rejuvenate, sustain, and solidify the bilateral relationship, enhance regional and global security, and better the lives of millions or people around the world.
The two countries must deal with traditional security concerns, but military issues shouldn’t be the single core of the relationship. There are new issues that are better suited to the capabilities of two of the world’s richest and most technologically advanced countries. Cooperative policy approaches in several areas will enhance the strength of the U.S.-Japan bilateral relationship while promoting a positive image to other states. Areas of opportunity include:
• expanding and increasing global prosperity through reforms that increase efficiency and open economies, as well as promote good governance and rule of law;
• coordinating development assistance, and creating more effective aid programs;
• increasing trade and transportation security;
• preventing proliferation of weapons of mass destruction;
• promoting energy security and policies that protect the environment;
• cooperation for crisis management, disaster relief and mitigation, and humanitarian aid in response to major disasters;
• cyber security;
• counter-terrorism cooperation;
• developing a framework for the safe integration of science and technology, including controls on dual use technology and "soft know-how;
• global health, including building capacity in developing countries to fight infectious diseases and to improve the public health infrastructure;
• nation building and peace building.
A strategy that expands the focus of U.S.-Japan cooperation will pay many dividends. It will broaden bilateral engagement and extend areas of cooperation. It will bring new voices and new energy to the relationship. It will take pressure off the military component of the relationship, which has borne too high a burden for too long. It sidesteps traditional obstacles to security cooperation.
This agenda requires Japan to forge and present to the world a vision of its appropriate role in global affairs. The U.S. must learn to listen to its ally more carefully and to better consult and coordinate policy. A new and rejuvenated alliance requires a more balanced apportioning of roles and responsibilities and the sharing of burdens. A new agenda can rejuvenate a vital partnership, one that has grown more important – not less – in the 21st century.
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