Hatoyama's push to review Japan-U.S. alliance comes from desire for independence

(Mainichi Japan) November 10, 2009

Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's enthusiasm about pursuing more independence and self-reliance for Japan is behind his calls for a fundamental review of the Japan-U.S. alliance, which has caused friction between the two countries.

Eight Japanese and U.S. defense and diplomatic experts had a dinner meeting at a steak restaurant in Washington on Oct. 14. They included Parliamentary Secretary of Defense Akihisa Nagashima, Takeo Akiba, a minister at the Japanese Embassy in Washington, and James Przystup, a senior research fellow at the Institute for National Strategic Studies.

While appreciating the Hatoyama administration's efforts to pursue different policies from those of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)-led government, Przystup urged Tokyo to do so under a strategic framework of relations between Japan, the U.S. and China. Przystup then warned Japan would only marginalize itself as the U.S. and China are getting closer to each other.

Nagashima countered by saying, "I wonder if we can respond to major international political and economic trends if we continue policies implemented under the LDP-led government. We'd like to review and improve the foundation for the Japan-U.S. alliance from a strategic viewpoint, even though it may cause some friction and take time."

Nagashima's view is shared by Prime Minister Hatoyama. "Next year marks the 50th anniversary of the amendment of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty. We'd like to review the Japan-U.S. alliance in a comprehensive manner," he told a House of Councillors plenary session on Oct. 29.

In his e-mail magazine dated Saturday, Hatoyama expressed his intention to fundamentally review the Futenma relocation plan and settle the issue.

"We want to clarify Japan's will on the Futenma matter," the e-mail magazine partly reads.

Hatoyama has called for an end to Japan's reliance on the U.S. for over a decade. In his campaign pledge for the 1996 House of Representatives election, he incorporated a "security arrangement without the continuous presence of U.S. forces."

Many of those close to Hatoyama point out that the origin of this idea is his grandfather, former Prime Minister Ichiro Hatoyama, who called for an end to Japan's reliance on the U.S. through its restoration of diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union, drafting and enactment of a new constitution on its own and the rearmament of Japan.

It represented a clear departure from former Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida's policy of pursuing diplomacy through Japan's relations with the U.S. as a core and attaching importance on economic growth.

One source close to Hatoyama points out that his idea comes from his experience of studying at Stanford University. Hatoyama saw the 200th anniversary of the U.S. foundation in 1976 when he was studying at the university, and was deeply impressed with the Americans' patriotism and pride in their own country.

He then became aware of the importance of independence and self-reliance of sovereign states, which motivated him to become a politician, according to the source.

(By Shinichiro Nishida and Muru Yamada, Political News Department, Yoso Furumoto, Washington Bureau, and Joji Uramatsu, Beijing Bureau)

(This is the second part of a five-part series on the Japan-U.S. alliance)