U.S. and Japan Pursue New Joint Declaration on Security

The Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported on August 15 that in order to cope with the restructuring of U.S. forces around the globe and the threat of terrorism, the U.S. and Japan are pursuing the adoption of a “New Joint Declaration on Security” which would re-define the concept of a security alliance between both countries and the method of cooperation--by early next year if possible.

According to the Japanese newspaper, the U.S., with its Global Defense Posture Review (GPR) plans to strengthen the military role played by Japan by deciding to activate the joint management of the U.S. forces and the Japanese Self-defense forces.

Both countries agreed to create a separate consultation organ to discuss the reorganization of U.S. armies, focusing on fortifying U.S. forces stationed in Japan, such as moving the U.S. Army’s 1st Corps headquarters to Japan.

Furthermore, the U.S. and Japan have expanded the scope of the U.S.-Japan security alliance, which was only applied to Japan, to the whole Asian Pacific region by adopting US-Japan Joint Declaration on Security in 1996, and the U.S.-Japan Defense Cooperation Guidelines in 1997.

Won-Jae Park parkwj@donga.com