Japan Brief/FPCJ, No. 0982
January 22, 2010


Fiftieth Anniversary of the Japan-US Security Treaty
and Deepening of the Japan-US Alliance

Half a century ago, on January 19, 1960, then Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi and then US Secretary of State Christian Herter signed the present Japan-US Security Treaty (officially the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between Japan and the United States of America) in Washington. On January 19 of this year, which marked the fiftieth anniversary of that occasion, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama issued a statement saying, “We intend to work jointly with the US Government to further deepen the US-Japan Alliance, with the US-Japan security arrangements at its core, in order to adapt to the evolving environment of the twenty-first century. I would like to present the people of Japan with the results of this work before the end of this year.”

On the same day US President Barack Obama also issued a statement saying that “America’s commitment to Japan’s security is unshakable.” In addition, the Japan-US Security Consultative Committee (the 2 + 2 meeting between the Japanese minister for foreign affairs and minister of defense and the US secretary of state and secretary of defense) issued a joint statement calling for intensification of the dialogue to deepen the alliance.

Prime Minister Hatoyama’s Statement Reaffirms Emphasis on Japan-US Alliance

The original bilateral security treaty, which preceded the present treaty, was concluded separately between Japan and the United States on the occasion of the signing ceremony for the San Francisco Peace Treaty in September 1951. The former treaty placed Japan in a subordinate position. For example, while permitting the stationing of US military forces in Japan, it did not oblige them to defend Japan.

In order to correct this unequal treatment, the revised treaty obliged the United States to act in Japan’s defense, stating, “Each Party recognizes that an armed attack against either Party in the territories under the administration of Japan would be dangerous to its own peace and safety and declares that it would act to meet the common danger” (Article V). In addition, the Japanese side promised to supply facilities and areas in Japan to the US military “For the purpose of contributing to the security of Japan and the maintenance of international peace and security in the Far East” (Article VI).

In his statement Prime Minister Hatoyama supported the principles and provisions of the Security Treaty, saying, “It is not an exaggeration to say that it was thanks to the US-Japan security arrangements that Japan has maintained peace, while respecting freedom and democracy, and enjoyed economic development in that environment since the end of the last World War to this day.” He also emphasized the significance of the deterrent power of the US military, saying, “. . . the deterrence provided by the US Forces based on the US-Japan security arrangements, together with Japan’s Self-Defense Forces, serves, and will continue to serve, an essential role in the foreseeable future to maintain Japan’s peace and security.”

Response to Sharp Changes in the International Environment

The world has changed enormously compared with 50 years ago, when the dominant factor was the military confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union. The East-West Cold War came to an end, but other major destabilizing factors in the international security situation are spreading, such as the expansion of international terrorist activities as evidenced by the 9/11 attacks and, in East Asia, North Korea’s possession of nuclear weapons and the rapid military emergence of China. For this reason, Japan-US security cooperation is being forced to change, too. When US President Obama visited Japan in November 2009 for bilateral summit talks, the leaders of the two countries agreed to commence a new deliberation process to deepen the Japan-US alliance (see Japan Brief No. 0969, “Japan, US Leaders Agree to Start Deliberation Process to Deepen Japan-US Alliance”).

However, various pending bilateral issues have surfaced that Japan and the United States must overcome in order to enhance their cooperation in international matters. The main one concerns the relocation of the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station in Okinawa. Speaking to the press on January 18, Prime Minister Hatoyama commented, “We will not be able to advance Japan-US security cooperation in a dependable way unless the Futenma problem is solved. The proper settlement of this issue by May will be a test case for progress thereafter” (Mainichi Shimbun, January 19).

Newspaper Editorials

Japan’s five major newspapers all carried editorials on the fiftieth anniversary of the Japan-US Security Treaty.

While noting that “Japan’s peace and prosperity over the past half century have been founded on the solid Japan-US alliance based on this treaty,” the Yomiuri Shimbun editorial (January 19) went on, “We should be aware that the environment surrounding Japan has become considerably tougher, as exemplified by North Korea’s declaration of its possession of nuclear weapons, China’s military buildup and threats posed by international terrorism. Given the circumstances, it is extremely regrettable that the Japan-US relationship has become shaky since the launch of the administration of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama in autumn due to such pending issues as the relocation of the functions of the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture. The Hatoyama administration should not stick to the May deadline to decide where the base should be relocated, but instead should seek an early settlement of that issue. At the same time, it is also important that the administration make more substantial efforts to reinforce the alliance ahead of US President Barack Obama’s planned visit to Japan in November.”

The Asahi Shimbun editorial (January 19) observed, “Under war-renouncing Article 9 of the Constitution, Japan’s armed capabilities are meant strictly for defense only, and under no circumstance will Japan ever use armed force abroad. The US forces stationed in Japan are there not only to defend Japan, but also to contribute to Asia-Pacific security with their power of deterrence.” It went on, “Our Asian neighbors have come to accept the Japan-US alliance as a safety device for the region precisely because of Article 9” and “the fundamental framework of ‘Article 9 and the Security Treaty’ will always remain viable in the international community.”

The Mainichi editorial (January 19) stated that in the face of North Korea’s nuclear tests and China’s military buildup, “Deterrent power backed by military force will remain effective and necessary.” On the other hand, drawing attention to poverty and ethnic conflicts that are a breeding ground for international terrorism, it commented, “The important thing is to develop a good balance between military and nonmilitary aspects. In the start of deliberations with the US government, we would like the Hatoyama administration to present a vision for a multilayered deepening of the alliance that seeks to achieve this balance.”

Expressing dissatisfaction, The Nikkei editorial (January 18) remarked, “Looking back over the last half-century of Japan-US relations, there have been ups and downs. But the relationship has never been as chilly as it is at the moment. The main reason is Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama’s stance toward the United States. His aim of seeking ‘equal’ and ‘close’ Japan-US relations is not a problem in itself. But concerning security, which is the core of the bilateral relationship, the Hatoyama administration has not indicated any ideas, including Japan’s responsibilities, whatsoever.”

The Sankei Shimbun editorial (January 19) similarly commented, “The plan to reorganize the US military stationed in Japan in order to adapt to the international environment of the twenty-first century is continuing to drift because of the problem of the relocation of the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station (in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture), and the leaders of the two countries are just not on the same wavelength. In order to restore Japan-US relations to where they used to be and put the deliberations for deepening the alliance onto the right track, Prime Minister Hatoyama should decide immediately to implement the existing agreement on the Futenma problem [to relocate the air station to an area off Henoko Bay in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture].”

(Copyright 2010 Foreign Press Center, Japan)

*Japan Brief is an original production of the Foreign Press Center, Japan, and does not represent the views of the Government of Japan or of any other body.


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