Review of the guidelines for Japan-US defense cooperation: A Japanese perspective

Various questions have been posed concerning the new guidelines, and the main points of clarification can be summarized as follows: First, Japan aspires to contribute more to the region in a peaceful, non-aggressive manner and the new guidelines provide the framework for realizing this aspiration. The Japan-US security arrangements combined with the American forward deployment and its strong will to uphold its commitments form the pillars for maintaining peace and stability in the region. The new guidelines help to improve the functioning of the bilateral security arrangements, thereby enhancing the credibility of the Japan-US alliance, which in turn contributes to the peace and security of the Asia-Pacific region-a common stake for all countries in the region. Second, the new guidelines contain joint activities between Japan and the United States, as well as activities initiated by either country within the framework of defense cooperation. Throughout ail activities Japan and the United States will always maintain close contact on whatever they do. Most important, Japan's activities are to be of non-combat nature, as three tables in the article serve to show. Third, three basic premises written in the new guidelines cannot be overemphasized: (i) the Japan-US Security Treaty remains unchanged, (ii) the Constitution of Japan and its defense-oriented policy remain unchanged (iii) respect for international law including sovereignty. Any action taken under the new guidelines will always be scrutinized from these three premises, with a view to making sure that the action conforms with them. Fourth, transparency will be maintained to deepen the understanding about the follow-up work of the new guidelines. If legislation is required, the democratic process in Japan's Diet will provide ample transparency and time to debate the issues. Furthermore, the Japan Defense Agency will continue to expand its defense dialogue with virtually all the countries of Asia so that better understanding can be obtained from them. In this way, Japan hopes to live up to its role as a responsible ally of the United States while dispelling any concerns from its neighbors about Japan's wish to contribute to the common stake of peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific region.