The staunch Japan-U.S. alliance is the foundation of stability and prosperity for the Asia-Pacific region. By advancing close policy coordination, both countries must strive to increase their common interests.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held talks with visiting U.S. Vice President Mike Pence. During the talks, Abe emphasized that the Japan-U.S. alliance is more solid than ever. Pence said in response that the United States hopes to make the vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific a reality.
Following his visit to Japan, Pence will participate, on behalf of U.S. President Donald Trump, in meetings related to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.
It is praiseworthy that Pence has reconfirmed the strong U.S. commitment to this region, so that Trump's absence from these meetings will not be interpreted as Washington being dismissive of Asia.
During their meeting, Abe and Pence agreed that Japan and the United States will work together to offer assistance of up to 70 billion dollars, combined, for infrastructure development projects in the Indo-Pacific region. Projects include the construction of energy-related facilities and manpower development.
Kept on their mind is China's Belt and Road initiative, a scheme aimed at creating a huge economic zone. It has been pointed out that the scheme has led its partner countries -- mainly in Asia -- to fall into excessive debt, consequently destabilizing the region.
Lead way in denuclearization
It is important for Japan and the United States to promote high-quality infrastructure projects that would contribute to sustainable development.
In his address last month regarding U.S. policy toward China, Pence spelled out a policy of beefing up pressure on China in security and economic areas. Regarding as problematic China's moves to build military footholds in the South China Sea and Chinese vessels' intrusions into Japan's territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture, the United States suggested a policy of taking firm measures.
This demonstrates a strong sense of crisis over China's hegemonic actions. While cooperating with the United States, Japan must urge China to exercise self-restraint in its actions that would undermine regional stability.
Abe and Pence shared the recognition that it is necessary to fully implement U.N. Security Council sanctions resolutions to realize the denuclearization of North Korea.
Dialogue between high-ranking U.S. and North Korean officials to realize a second U.S.-North Korea summit has stagnated. Sanctions should not be eased until North Korea takes concrete measures to abandon its nuclear and missile development programs. Japan and the United States must play a leading role in efforts made by the international community.
As to the negotiations on a trade agreement on goods (TAG) which Japan and the United States will launch next year, Pence said, during the pair's joint press statements, that the United States has had a trade imbalance with Japan for too long.
Such a U.S. stance of prioritizing only the reduction of the U.S. trade deficit is problematic.
The removal of trade barriers and the expansion of trade will lead to furthering the interests of both countries. The Japanese government has no choice but to tenaciously press this point with Washington.
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 14, 2018)
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
