United States and Japan. Security and Economic Relations

Outline

Security relationship
security treaty
divergent considerations
current issues
Economic relationship
economic concerns
trade issues

U.S. Occupation of Japan

August 1945 - April 1952
Supreme Commander of the

U.S.-Japan Alliance

One of the most important components of U.S. security policy

U.S.-Japan Alliance

Historically unique alliance:
Bilateral alliance between the victor and the vanquished

U.S.-Japan Security Treaty

U.S.-Japan Mutual Security Treaty (1951)
U.S. troops and military base

U.S.-Japan Security Treaty

Revision in 1960
removed ``internal riots” clause
U.S. seek Japan’s approval

U.S.-Japan Alliance

Guidelines for U.S.-Japan Defense Cooperation in 1978 and 1997
grant U.S.

Divergent Considerations

U.S.’s overall global strategy
containment of Soviet Union during Cold War
stability

Divergent Considerations

Japan’s concerns
defense of Japan
economic growth
U.S. tendency toward unilateralism

Current Issues

Burden sharing
About 50,000 U.S. troops in Japan
Japan provides $2.5 billion

Current Issues

U.S. Bases on Okinawa
29,000 U.S. military personnel
public protests
reduction of bases

International Pressures

U.S. demand
burden-sharing
economic sanctions
Asian neighbors
welcome Japan’s economic & financial leadership
wary of

Economic Influence

Japan’s economic position is not matched by political influence
third largest

International Organizations

Japan increased role in
IMF
Japan gained No. 2 voting weight in

Failure of a Proposal

Asian financial crisis (1997-1998)
Japan proposed a regional monetary

Japan’s Dilemma

Domestic political debates
Leftists’ opposition to military involvement
``Peace Clause” in the

Japan’s Contributions

Economic strategies are financially and politically less costly
First Gulf War

US-Japan Economic Issues

The world’s two largest economies
US+Japan produce nearly 30% of

U.S. concerns over Japan

Japan’s economic recession
depreciation of yen
U.S. exports to Japan