Japan Press Weekly

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2008 July 2 - 8 [US FORCES]

Japan-U.S. alliance takes precedence over global warming issue

Aboard Air Force One, the presidential plane heading for Japan, a senior U.S. government official hinted that the item of primary importance on the agenda for talks between President George W. Bush and Japanese Prime Minister Fukuda Yasuo will be the development of military cooperation between the two countries.

Dennis Wilder, U.S. National Security Council senior director for Asian affairs, said that the period of the Bush presidency “has been a golden age in U.S.-Japanese relations,” citing a “very ambitious program of realignment of our military forces in Japan” and the planned first deployment of a U.S. nuclear carrier to Japan.

At a joint news conference following the talks with Bush, Fukuda said that the Japan-U.S. alliance has drastically deepened, particularly in military affairs, and that the two leaders have agreed to further strengthen the alliance. Thus, Fukuda and Bush pledged to make the Japan-U.S. military alliance even more powerful.

In the eyes of the Japanese people, however, the Japan-U.S. alliance has been instrumental in sending Japanese troops abroad, thus turning Japan into a convenient stepping-stone for U.S. military intervention on a global scale.

The Japan-U.S. military alliance is raising deep concerns about adverse effects it might have on global issues, particularly the issue of global warming, which is reportedly the most important item on the agenda of the G8 summit in Hokkaido.

The United States showed reluctance to endorse the long-term goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, which Fukuda wants to make his foremost achievement in the G8 summit. Apparently noticing Bush’s reluctance, Fukuda said the differences that arose in the discussion should be shelved, adding, “Talks on this question are still under way.” Asked by a reporter if he thinks that the United States is obstructing progress in the global warming negotiations, Fukuda only said, “I don’t think that the United States has lost sight of the general direction.”

President Bush in his opening statement at the news conference referred to the greenhouse gas emissions issue at the very end, as if it were supplemental. He said, “I am also realistic enough to tell you that if China and India don’t share that same aspiration, that we are not going to solve the problem.” This means that the United States will refuse to fulfill its responsibility as a developed country for taking the initiative in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and is shifting the blame onto China and India.

Unless something is done in this regard to overcome this position, the G8 summit will not be able to forge a way out of the impasse. Without any action being taken, the Japan-U.S. military alliance will become an obstacle hindering global warming negotiations from making any progress.