A Turning Point For U.S. - Japan Relations

It appears as though there is a significant turning point and power shift currently taking place between the U.S. and Japan. The events that have led me to this conclusion are the bid and what so far seems like a possible exceptence as a permanent seat in the UN Security Council for Japan and the push by the U.S. for Japan to make a larger and more serious commitment to its global military realignment plan. PM Koizumi is in a difficult situation, but seems to have made a diplomatic and well planned first step. By making a bid and being accepted (if in fact they are) into the UNSC, Japan will be on a more level playing ground when being pushed by America to revise the bilateral security treaty or change their interpretation of it and assume a larger role in the U.S. world stabilization plan. This is exactly why President Bush will not openly support Japan's bid. I see this as a direct power shift from the U.S. to Japan. By holding a permanent seat on the UNSC Japan gains a little bargaining power in US-Japan policy issues and it forces the U.S. to respect Japan a little more when issuing ultimatums. Japan’s refusal to cooperate with the U.S. plan could hurt the trade agreements between the US and Japan, but Japan would have the power to help counter any requests to the UNSC by the US. I feel Japan deserves to be and should be on the UNSC. The U.S. failure in foreign policy and lack of respect for the UNSC member’s decisions has directly helped contribute to this power shift and Japan’s possible acceptance in the UNSC. I also believe the U.S has put Koizumi in a rather awkward situation by requesting him to revise or reinterpret the Security alliance between the two countries. If Koizumi cooperates, it could hurt him politically as he would most likely be severely criticized by rival politicians and the public for doing so. I believe it would be a bad move for Koizumi to agree with this US policy. It would not be good for Japan and it would harm Asian security and contribute to further erosion of Japan – Asia relations. President Bush’s foreign policy is severely damaging US-world relations and is weakening the U.S as well as contributing to its insecurity. It will be interesting to see how this all pans out.

Comments

fag

[Mario Yaconetti]

I believe your right. If bush persists down the paths that he chooses with out thinking of the world-wide ramifications, America will become less popular for foreign investments. I believe this is why he accepted the Dubai ports deal. The problem is he has convinced the American people that we are in a post 9/11 world. By doing this he has convinced people to be afraid of the Middle East. Now contradicting himself in this political movement, his own party is going against him. What’s next for American government and world image?

[AnferTuto]

Hola faretaste
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