Okinawa, the US–Japan Alliance, and Asia-Pacific Security

Abstract

Recent tensions in Northeast Asia highlight the need for a stable regional security architecture – a role long played by the US–Japan alliance. In fact, the alliance has long been a core part of regional security politics. The United States’ “San Francisco,” or “hub-and spokes,” system of alliances has contributed much to Asia’s security and economic development (Calder 2004; Tow and Envall 2011). Today, however, the US–Japan alliance is challenged not only by regional developments, such as North Korea’s saber-rattling and the Japanese dispute with China over the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands (Daily Yomiuri 15 December 2012), but also by domestic concerns. In the latter context, the Japanese prefecture of Okinawa and the presence of US military bases there continues to be an irritant in US–Japan relations. The ongoing distrust and resentment of the US military presence by substantial sectors of the Okinawan population is particularly problematic for alliance stability. Our aim, in this extended ANU–MASI Policy Background Paper, is to examine recent developments in Okinawa in light of the two allies’ changing strategic aims and explore some potential approaches to addressing these challenges. We argue that, because many of the alliance’s problems relating to Okinawa are political rather than strategic, it is necessary to integrate these political considerations more clearly into alliance relations. Although Japan should not unilaterally determine basing issues, it should assume a greater role in addressing the political problems associated with them. As Japan assumes greater responsibility in developing the US alliance’s strategic role, it should also seek to provide Okinawa with greater historical and military reassurance. In particular, it should overcome what we identify as the Japanese government’s lack of credibility in the prefecture. This stems from the Japanese government’s historical failure to manage base and land issues, and to properly recognize issues of identity and equality that are important to the Okinawan people. Show more