The U.S.-Japan Alliance: Past, Present, and Future
Green and Cronin have edited a different type of study of the alliance and its problems: a collection of authors engaging in highly detailed and technical policy analysis. Logical rigor and factual precision, rather than personalities, characterize this work. The authors pose tough questions about the priorities of American policy -- toward not just Japan but also the rest of Asia. The editors conclude that a reaffirmation of the alliance will require a new definition of roles and policies, which in turn should engage China and work toward a global security partnership.
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The Clinton administration's new coziness with China has left India feeling insecure, Taiwan betrayed, and Japan ignored.
Although Japan and China have close economic ties, their diplomatic relations have been strained by clashing interests and cultural friction. The United States has an important role to play in promoting cooperation between Tokyo and Beijing and helping them adjust to a new phase in East Asia's history.
As economic crisis plunges Asia into chaos, old wounds may reopen. The continent still fears Japan, thanks to its World War II brutalities. By refusing to apologize, Tokyo only makes matters worse. A power vacuum results: an unrepentant Japan will never be allowed to lead a suspicious Asia. Instead, flash points may ignite, and East Asia and even America could be dragged into a war. To defuse tensions, America must push its ally to show remorse and Japan must pay its World War II debts. In turn, China and Korea -- age-old enemies of Japan -- must learn to look forward, not back.
