In a new Asia Pacific Bulletin, Yuki Tatsumi, Senior Associate of the East Asia Program at the Stimson Center, analyzes the statements and documents produced by last week’s meeting of the Security Consultative Committee, or “2 plus 2″ talks, between United States’ and Japan’s cabinet-level foreign and defense officials in Washington, D.C.
Tatsumi cautions that while these documents embody admirable efforts to create positive momentum in the US-Japan alliance, the alliance continues to face the risk of drift. “Without seriously tackling the fundamental [political] challenges that prevent the transformation of the US-Japan alliance, an effort to ‘deepen’ and/or ‘widen’ this alliance will only end up being ‘pie in the sky.’”
Click here to read this issue of the Asia Pacific Bulletin…