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No. 566

April 18, 2006

Routing

Two Normal Countries

Rethinking the U.S.-Japan Strategic Relationship

by Christopher Preble

Executive Summary

should begin immediately. As a first step, the

The U.S.-Japan strategic relationship, formal-

United States should refrain from interfering in the

ized during the depths of the Cold War and refined

decisions that the Japanese people may make with

during the 1980s and 1990s, continues to undergo

respect to their own defense. Washington should

dramatic changes. Although Japan is economically

remain agnostic on the question of revisions to the

capable and now seems politically motivated to

Japanese constitution, including the crucial Article

assume full responsibility for defending itself from

9. Further, while U.S. policymakers might advise

threats, it is legally constrained from doing so

the Japanese of the uncertain benefits of acquiring

under the terms of the Japanese constitution, par-

their own nuclear weapons relative to the high

ticularly Article 9. The path to defensive self-suffi-

costs, the United States should not expect to be able

ciency is also impeded by Japan's continuing

to prevent the Japanese from developing such

dependence on the United States embodied in the

weapons--nor should it try. Finally, the new strate-

U.S.-Japan security alliance.

gic partnership should culminate with the removal

With the United States struggling to meet mili-

of U.S forces from Japanese soil. The two countries

tary commitments abroad, and with Japan increas-

could negotiate basing agreements for U.S. naval

ingly asserting military autonomy, American poli-

vessels and aircraft, and possibly also some pre-

cymakers must shape a new policy that will more

positioning of heavy equipment in depots for rapid

equitably distribute security burdens between the

deployment in the region, but such agreements

two countries. Three recent instances in which the

need not depend on the continuation of a large-

United States and Japan have worked together on

scale, and effectively permanent, U.S. troop pres-

matters of mutual interest--Iraq, Taiwan, and

ence. The new alliance between two normal coun-

North Korea--offer useful clues as to how a coop-

tries--as opposed to one between a patron and a de

erative strategic relationship might operate in the

facto client--will provide a more durable founda-

future.

tion for addressing the most pressing security chal-

A new U.S.-Japan strategic relationship will be

lenges in East Asia and beyond.

crafted over a period of several years, but the process

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Christopher Preble is director of foreign policy studies at the Cato Institute.