Japan-US Summit – A Step to a New Japan-U.S. Relationship?

November 15, 2009 – Osaka, Japan

On November 14, Nikkei, Japan’s leading newspaper specialized in economy/business and politics, reported on Japan-U.S. summit and on joint press conference of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and U.S. President Barack Obama sharing a firm handshake in front of the cameras at their bilateral meeting, held on Friday evening of November 13. It was the first time for Mr. Obama to visit Japan, and second time for the two leaders to meet since September in New York. The summit was held for 1-1/2 hours, and after dinner, the two leaders had an exclusive discussion for 15 minutes.

The two leaders affirmed the importance of further deepening and developing the Japan-U.S. alliance and agreed on starting discussion between the two governments towards 50th anniversary of the Japan-US Security Treaty Amendment in 2010. Also, they agreed on making efforts to solve the issue quickly of relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa Prefecture, which was agreed to by Tokyo and Washington in a 2006 accord, and confirmed on collaboration in aiding Afghanistan and solving nuclear issue of North Korea and Iran. The main points discussed by the two leaders are as below.

Main Points Discussed by the Two Leaders
(Source: Nikkei, translated by the author)
1. Affirmed the importance of further deepening and developing the Japan-U.S. alliance.
2. Discuss for a year between the two governments towards 50th anniversary of the Japan-US Security Treaty Amendment in 2010, and draw out a conclusion.
3. Agreed on making efforts to solve quickly relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa Prefecture.
4. Mr. Hatoyama expressed maximum 5 year aid of 5 billion USD to Afghanistan, to which Mr. Obama expressed gratitude.
5. Cooperation on nuclear issue of North Korea and Iran.
6. Agreed on 80% GHG reduction by 2050, and on collaboration to succeed COP 15.

After the discussion, joint press conferment was held, in which, regarding the new discussion between the two governments on the Japan-US Security Treaty, Mr. Hatoyama expressed, “I would like to create future-focused and constructive new alliance” and Mr. Obama added, “I would like to look back on past achievements and proceed the next step.” Mr. Hatoyama also emphasized that “the Japan-U.S. alliance is the fundamental of everything”, and regarding concept of “East Asia Community” that he advocates, expressed that the U.S.’s involvement is inevitable by saying “It is with the firm Japan-U.S. alliance that I advocate this concept.”

It is only once that the Japan- US Summit ended without any agreement. That was in 1994 when President Clinton requested starting discussion on trade framework, to which Prime Minister Hosokawa refused. The U.S. immediately countercharged by such measures as navigating to high yen.

This summit was full of smile, and such issues as elimination of nuclear weapons and global environment were documented; however, inner workings are more serious than 15 years ago. It is highly desired that blue print for each issue is drafted and executed immediately, which requires strong leadership of the two leaders.