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US, Japan establish military alliance
March 31 is a memorable day for the United States and Japan as the two countries signed Treaty of Kanagawa (Japan-U.S. Treaty of Peace and Amity) 150 years ago on that day since which Japan opened its door to the outside world. On that historic day, related commemorative ceremony was held at the US National Archives & Records Administration (NARA) in Washington D.C. Japanese Ambassador to the United States Ryouzou Katou and Speaker of US House of Representatives and Deputy Secretary of State, Ambassador Richard L. Armitage attended the ceremony. Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and US President George W. Bush sent each other congratulations through video. Bush said the United States and Japan have common interest, value and goals while Koizumi said the 150-year bilateral relations have become too firm to be destroyed. Before that the English Japanese and Chinese and Dutch versions of the original treaty have gone to the public on March 27 at NARA. The previous disclose was 35 years ago. As learned the two parties had a host of celebrations. For example on April 3, a grand "celebration for the 150th anniversary of Japan-US exchanges" was held in Yokohama of Japan. Ironically, however, the treaty Japanese hail today was not signed under peaceful and amiable circumstance. July 8, 1853, then US Navy Commodore Matthew C. Perry (1794-1858) led a fleet composed of four ships to Japan and delivered the State Paper which was mainly on opening-up for businesses. Perry threatened of resorting to force if the demand was turned down. Japanese then governor was forced to sign the treaty on March 31, 1854.
Goodwill to Washington is widely existent in Japan's governing circle. Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi is also an emotional person, who said US is her "second motherland" on at Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington D.C. on September 16, 2002. So weird a phenomenon. 150 years ago, Japan was forced to open up by US threat of force. During the Second World War, as enemies, the two countries were at war. The "mushroom cloud" of US atomic bombs has not completely cleared. After the war, Japan was long occupied by the United States thus economic and trade dispute came one after another and so did US soldiers' outrage in Japan. Under this condition, however, Japan has always had heartened identification to Washington. Japan is a country admiring the strong, said Song Zhiyong, associate professor with Nankai University. Additionally, United States, the world giant is credited to the growth of Japan as it has directly nurtured Japan in its post-war economic and political reforms. "In this way it is not hard for us to understand Japan's identification to the United States." It has always been Japan's diplomatic orientation to be an ordinary country, said Dr. Dai Jianfang with Asia-Pacific Research Center of Tongji University. The problem is however, what kind of "normal country" is Japan striving to be.
Koizumi noted at a press conference on March 26 that Japan will complete the task of aiding Iraq for reconstruction as always. The statement was a response to the another made by al-Qaeda-related Abu Hafs al-Masri that preparation was under way for terrorist attacks the same as blasts in Madrid against Japan and Italy. Japan's dispatching troops to Iraq this time drew on lessons from the first Gulf War in which Japan provided the US-led allied troops US$ 13 billion in 1991, following only Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. However, Kuwait neglected Japan in the helper list published on New York Times after the war yet showed gratitude to Czech and Slovakia who sent medical teams. This time however, Japan forcibly passed the act on special measures for assisting Iraq's reconstruction, resolutely sent Self-defense Forces to Iraq on March 31, 2004. It was the last batch of the 1000 peacekeeping soldiers stationed in the Middle East. Japanese Government also said pledged US$ 200-million equipment for Iraq's reconstruction. Yomiuri News reported that Koizumi stressed at the first anniversary of Iraq war that he has always believed in the existence of WMD (weapons of mass destruction) in Iraq and the justice of the war.
On March 29, Japanese Defense Agency established a special troop directly under the jurisdiction of head of the agency in near-Tokyo Narashino station of the Ground Self-defense Force, whose main task is to prevent attacks by terrorists and guerilla. Meanwhile, the Defense Agency also expand the parachute troop of the SDF to 1900 persons, in preparation to cooperate with the newly-established special troop at war to counteract terrorist attacks and rescue Japanese overseas. It is learned that Japanese Maritime SDF established in 2001 "special police" to examine ships yet it is the first time for Ground SDF. According to a principle set by Japan Defense Agency on March 1: Japan will add another troop in 2006 dedicated to international contribution, anti-terrorism and missile defense. Japan's military expansion is all-around. On March 28,2003, one week after Iraq war broke out, Japan launched two spy satellites; From April 21 to May 2, Japan SDF had airborne oil charge exercise with US army in Kyushu; on May 28, the Air SDF's 6 F-15 fighters and one AWACS (airborne warning and control system) flied to US homeland to join the Japan-US joint military drill in Alaska in June that year. Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution stipulates: "land, sea and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized." However, with US support, Japan's military force was established as early as during the Korea war and developed rapidly. As experts said, currently, Japan ranks world second in military expenditure, while China's is only one fourth of that of Japan. Japan has had considerably strong military force. On March 25, Gordon England, Secretary of the Navy, under current Japanese Constitution, we are not allowed to call SDF military troop, but in foreigners' eyes, they are. Koizumi said in the future, when amending the constitution was on agenda, how to address SDF will be one of the topics for debate. In fact, that is not the first time for the Japanese Prime Minister to say such things. On May 20, he declared at Diet: "SDF are actually military forces."
Sources say the location the Aegis to be stationed has never been disclosed before. Japanese Government rare enthusiasm toward US military plan. Koizumi said in public that it can not only strengthen the security of Japan and the region and also boost the trust in Japanese-US ties. The Aegis destroyer will be a destroyer in Japan. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda also said that preventing missile attack is one important part of Japan's defense policy and launching ballistic missile defense will play an important part in strengthening the mutual trust between Japan and the United States. As expert put it, Japan has long started missile defense strategy and Japanese Government planned to complete the deployment of missile defense facilities in its homeland by 2007. As Mainichi Daily News reported on March 25, Japan and the United States decided to establish "intelligence instant sharing communication web" blocking ballistic missiles to jointly deal with possible missile attacks. In order to establish efficient intelligence communication web, the United States hopes to install in Japan sophisticated ground radar designated to ballistic defense system, to enhance the accuracy in seeking intelligence. According to the agreement on Japan-US mutual supply, Japanese SDF signed in February, previous restrictions on Japanese SDF has been abandoned de facto under the condition they receive water, food and fuel from the US armies. US armies can provide supply and labor to Japan from anywhere on the earth and it has nothing to do with the purpose of dispatching SDF.
News blasted by Kyoto News Agency early March, US Government prepared to move its First Command of Ground Army along western coast to Japan's Kanagawa. As widely known, US first army's main task is to cope with emergencies and conflicts in Asia and Pacific region. The stationing of that troop in Japan will undoubtedly have subtle impact on the situation in the region. Obviously, Japan's security strategies are centering around Japan-US alliance, and an important part of US global strategy. Yao Wenyuan, researcher with the Japan Institute under Chinese Academy of Social Sciences listed in an article three pillars of post-Cold War Japan's security strategy. First, to maintain and strengthen Japan-US security system. Second, to establish a "rational, efficient and capable" "self-defense force" Third, to push establishing Japan's participation and dominance in multilateral security system. Yao holds the first is the core of the three and the target is Japan-US hegemony in Asia and Pacific region.
United States and Japan joined hand in establishing a firm military alliance in East Asia, which greatly affect regional security even the world pattern and China is the first to feel the pressure. Although the summary only mentioned that if Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) got down to ballistic missile launch targeting Japan, Japan could take the initiative to attack DPRK's missile base. DPRK, the imaginary enemy is a reason for the serial Japan-US co-operations. The officials of the two sides also reiterated it is not against China. Japan-US ally further complicates China's position in handling the issues such as Diaoyu Islands and Taiwan. Spokesman with Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan claimed recently US will perform its duty in assisting the defense once Diaoyu Islands are attacked according to Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security Between the United States of America and Japan. According to the scope set by Japan's Contingency Bill, not only Taiwan and Diaoyu Islands, even South China Sea is within the "contingency" area. How should China counteract pressure imposed by Japan-US alliance? Professor Zhang Lianhong with Nanjing Normal University said China's foreign policy is very transparent, that is to develop relations of equality and mutual benefit with countries in the world on the foundation of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. This is clearly indicated in China's joint communiquĦ§|s with United States and Japan. It is widely held that currently, Chinese Government's foreign policies are practical and effective as one country can talk about other things only when it grows strong. Remain sober and calm despite riotous clouds sweeping past. Maybe that can describe that attitude China should take. (People's Daily Online) |
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