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nity to help shape the region's future, prevent

everything presently stationed in East Asia.

conflict and provide the stability and access

But why must everything presently in the

that allows us to conduct approximately $500

region remain? The vague specter of instabili-

billion a year in trans-Pacific trade."34

ty has replaced the demon of communism as

Apparently the administration believes that all

America's enemy, with a potpourri of nonmil-

that commerce would vanish if the United

itary objectives tossed in for good measure.38

States did not police East Asia.

The Host Nation Support Rationale

A Permanent Presence

Another argument for U.S. bases in East

Moreover, the U.S. military presence is

Asia--especially in Korea and Japan--is that

seemingly required forever. True, DOD says

the allied nations provide "substantial sup-

the troops are necessary only for "the foresee-

port for maintenance of U.S. troops."39 But so-

able future," but it is hard to imagine the cir-

called host nation support (HNS) helps pay

cumstances under which they could depart,

only a small portion of basing costs; it does

given the premise of the report. For instance,

not cover the expense of the troops them-

former assistant secretary of defense Joseph

selves.

Nye, who authored the earlier Pentagon

For instance, the marginal cost of station-

report, claimed that DOD envisioned station-

ing 37,000 soldiers in Korea is about $3 billion

ing "about 100,000 American troops in the

annually, while the expense of raising and

region only so long as security conditions

maintaining the relevant units runs as much

required it."35 But if the end of the Cold War,

as $13 billion. Including the cost of units

intended for reinforcement as well as a pro-

the collapse of hegemonic communism, and

portionate share of Pentagon overhead raises

the dramatic growth in the strength of demo-

the cost even more. The total bill for defending

cratic and quasi-democratic states throughout

Japan probably exceeds $20 billion a year.40

the region aren't enough to warrant meaning-

ful change, what would be? If Washington

Last year South Korea contributed only $399

can't step back when the chairman of the Joint

million toward HNS, and it is reducing HNS

Chiefs of Staff says he sees no major military

to just $333 million this year.41 Tokyo, which

threat, when can it?36

reduced HNS from $2.3 billion in 1997 to $2.1

billion last year, is expected to consider further

Indeed, it seems too convenient that a sys-

reductions as well.

tem of alliances and force deployments devel-

Moreover, the fact that other nations are

oped to meet one set of contingencies also

willing to pay the United States to protect

happens to be the optimal arrangement for

The fact that

them is not an adequate reason for Wash-

meeting a completely different set. One could

ington to do so. If a commitment no longer

be forgiven for suspecting that U.S. defense

other nations are

serves American security interests, it should be

policymakers are merely looking for new rea-

willing to pay the

ended. In that case, the troops are no longer

sons to preserve old commitments.

needed, either overseas or at home.

Of course, the Pentagon is sensitive to such

United States to

Contributions, even generous ones, from

criticisms, arguing that the figure of 100,000

protect them is

South Korea and Japan do not warrant hiring

troops "is not arbitrary--it represents the for-

not an adequate

out the U.S. military as quasi-mercenaries to

midable capabilities of the U.S. Eighth Army

defend those nations.

and Seventh Air Force in Korea, III Marine

reason for

For the same reason, the United States

Expeditionary Force and Fifth Air Force in

Washington to

need not expand access to bases elsewhere in

Japan, and the U.S. Seventh Fleet, all focused

do so.

the region. Washington should drop propos-

on shaping, responding and preparing as nec-

als for a new bilateral military agreement with

essary to achieve security and stability in the

region."37 However, that merely moves the

the Philippines, as well as efforts to increase

defense ties with Singapore. The United States

arbitrariness one step back. DOD says that

has suffered no damage from the demise of its

100,000 is not arbitrary because it represents

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