Publications

Despite a historic strengthening of the U.S.-Japan security alliance throughout the last decade, new strains are emerging in this relationship. A series of developments has triggered concerns in Tokyo about the U.S. commitment to Japan’s defense. The U.S. readiness to move forward with relations with North Korea, despite a lack of progress in Japan-North Korea relations, has stirred fears of abandonment. Washington’s readiness to work with Beijing to achieve shared objectives revives memories of "Japan passing." For U.S. strategists, these doubts make no sense. The U.S. commitment to Japan remains robust, firmly rooted in common values, interests, and a long and enduring history.

This disconnect prompted the Pacific Forum CSIS and the Advanced Systems and Concepts Office of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency to gather a group of U.S. and Japanese strategists to compare and explore strategic perspectives, to see how each country views developments in Northeast Asia, their alliance, and expectations about how it can and should work. In particular, the two sides looked hard at divergences in their thinking and ways to bridge those differences.