Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s visit to the U.S. was not just about symbolism. What is more important is the dramatic substantive strengthening of U.S.-Japan alliance because of the new U.S.-Japan Joint Defense Guidelines that Washington and Tokyo have recently agreed upon and the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade deal that the two countries are expected to sign soon.
The new U.S.-Japan Joint Defense Guidelines, based on the details disclosed to the public, must be considered a revolutionary document. The new security pact will greatly expand the military cooperation between the two countries, both with formidable air and naval capabilities.
While the new guidelines emphasize Japan’s future participation by the Japanese Self-Defense Forces in specific joint activities such as peace-keeping, disaster relief and missile defense, the most consequential — and controversial — change in the U.S.-Japan military alliance is the removal of the limits on geographical areas of operation by the JSDF. Under previous joint U.S.-Japan defense guidelines, the participation of the JSDF was limited to only “areas surrounding Japan.” The new guidelines will permit the JSDF to operate around the world with the U.S. military after such specific missions receive formal approval by the Japanese parliament.
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