*EPF505 03/17/00
Text: Secretary Cohen Mar. 17 Remarks to Japan National Press Club
(U.S.-Japan alliance is important to Asia's future) (2120)

"The U.S.-Japan alliance is the single most important bilateral relationship in Asia. It will be as important to Asia's future as it has been to Asia's past."

That was the message William Cohen emphasized during his fifth trip to Japan as secretary of defense.

Speaking to the National Press Club in Tokyo March 17, Cohen said that "given the astonishing and unpredictable rush of world events today -- events such as the Taepo-Dong missile launch two years ago -- our alliance may be even more important than ever before.

"Indeed, in this era of uncertainty, the certainty of the U.S.-Japan Alliance is the very foundation upon which rest the peace, the prosperity and the stability of the entire region. This is why the Japan-U.S. security alliance enjoys such a high level of support in both of our countries."

Cohen urged that both countries continue to work together as partners bringing "different but complimentary contributions" to the alliance.

"For the United States, this includes our global strategic posture, our forward deployed forces in the Asia-Pacific region, payment of the vast majority of expenses associated with those forces, and our fundamental treaty commitment to the defense of Japan," he said. "Japan's contribution includes investments in the Self Defense Forces, the provision of bases and Host Nation Support."

Some Japanese refer to Japan's monetary contributions to the alliance as the "sympathy budget," but Cohen emphasized that it is "an integral part of Japan's security budget and an important contribution to stability in the Asia-Pacific."

The Secretary also said that is the shared values of both countries -- democracy, rule of law, human rights, and free markets -- that give purpose to the security alliance.

Following is the text of Cohen's remarks, as prepared for delivery:

(begin text)

Remarks by Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen
To the Japan National Press Club

Japan National Press Club Building
Tokyo, Japan

March 17, 2000

Secretary Cohen: Mr. Haruna, thank you for your kind words of introduction and thank you all for the opportunity to be with you this morning. Before I start speaking I do appreciate the opportunity to be here and I want to thank all of you who are here in attendance, and I also want to say just a word about my former colleague from the United State Congress. Ambassador Foley and I served together many years ago in the House of Representatives when I first entered that body in 1972. He went on to become Speaker of the House and one of our most wise, informed and enlightened leaders in the history of the Congress. So it is a delight to be here to have a chance to express my appreciation for all that he does on behalf of our country.

Mr. Nabe, members of the press, ladies and gentlemen, good morning. An ancient philosopher once observe that "one cannot step twice in the same river." My travels this week have reminded me that one cannot travel twice to the same Asia. My visit to Hong Kong was my first since the reversion to China. My discussions with both Chief Executive Tung and American business leaders highlighted the rather profound transformation - political and economic - since the reversion. The Hong Kong press asked repeatedly about the U.S. reaction to tensions between China and Taiwan. I made it clear that the U.S. one-China policy calls for the peaceful resolution of differences between China and Taiwan, and I urged both Beijing and Taipei to avoid provocative rhetoric.

From Hong Kong, I proceeded to Vietnam, becoming the first American Secretary of Defense to visit Hanoi. I had occasion to visit a rice paddy outside Hanoi where U.S. and Vietnamese military personnel are working side-by-side to account for Americans still missing from the conflict. In meetings with Vietnamese officials, and in an address to military leaders at their National Defense Academy, I stressed that our efforts to account for the missing will remain the single highest priority of the United States as we move forward in our relations with that nation. We also discussed modest steps that the U.S. and Vietnamese militaries can take together to deal with other issues, such as mine removal, military medical care, flood control and environmental cleanup. This year the U.S. and Vietnam are celebrating the 5th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Hanoi and Washington, and the increasingly productive relationship between our countries.

Immediately following this event, I will be concluding my trip with a visit to Seoul where my itinerary will mirror our dual approach toward North Korea. Dialogue, as reflected in my discussions with South Korean leaders, and deterrence, as reflected in my visits with U.S. forces who stand vigilant with our South Korea allies on the peninsula.

This visit to Japan is my fifth as Secretary. And I would say that my meetings with Prime Minister Obuchi, Minister of State for Defense Kawara, and Foreign Minister Kono, have all underscored the cooperation and candor that define our security alliance.

In keeping with that candor, I want to take a few moments to address an audience beyond this room. The Japanese people, who are engaged in an increasingly active national discussion regarding this nation's role on the world stage. Some voices in this country have suggested that in aftermath of the Cold War, and with the onset of daunting economic challenges, the world's second largest economic power do less on the global scene. Fortunately, more voices within Japan are calling on this nation to play a more active and complete role, including in security matters. Understandably, this discussion has also touched on the scope and scale of Japan's security relationship with the United States, as well as on Japan's regional relations and multilateral initiatives.

Such discussion is both natural and necessary. Natural, in a democracy, and necessary, because the strength of our national security policies rest in great measure on public support. So I want to take this occasion to address the Japanese public on how we see our alliance.

An American jurist once said, "A thought is often original, though you have uttered it 100 times." Countless times over the past 50 years we have uttered the following thought. Yet it often strikes the ear as original given the challenges of changing times. I utter it again today because it remains a simple truth often overlooked in larger debates. The U.S.-Japan alliance is the single most important bilateral relationship in Asia. I will be as important to Asia's future as it has been to Asia's past.

In fact, given the astonishing and unpredictable rush of world events today -- events such as the Taepo-Dong missile launch two years ago -- our alliance may be even more important than ever before. Indeed, in this era of uncertainty -- the certainty of the U.S.-Japan Alliance is the very foundation upon which rest the peace, the prosperity and the stability of the entire region. This is why the Japan-U.S. security alliance enjoys such a high level of support in both of our countries.

Our alliance has never been so critical and our cooperation has never been so close. When President Clinton and former Prime Minister Hashimoto signed the Security Declaration in 1996, they reinvigorated the U.S.-Japan relationship for a new century and made a strong alliance even stronger. Together, we updated the Guidelines for U.S.-Japan Defense Cooperation to ensure that we are prepared for today's challenges:

From peacekeeping, to humanitarian relief, to responding to regional crises that affect Japan's security, to the defense of Japan itself. Together, we have recently made notable progress in implementation of the guidelines. Together, we are cooperating on research into theater missile defense. Together, we are engaging China, and working with South Korea to encourage a more open and peaceful North Korea. Together, we are supporting Indonesia's critical transition to democracy. In short, when promoting regional peace and stability -- there is simply no substitute for the U.S.-Japan security alliance.

I would add that together we have also worked hard on behalf of the people behind our partnership -- the Japanese who work in and live around U.S. military bases and installations and, the Americans who live and serve here alongside you.

In recent years U.S. Forces in Japan have renewed our commitment to be a good neighbor. The best example is how well the governments of Japan and the U.S. have worked together in the SACO process to address concerns of the people on Okinawa. Throughout Japan, we have ensured that training missions and operations take into account local concerns while still maintaining the capabilities and readiness of U.S. forces that -- along with your own Self Defense Forces -- protect Japan. We are reaching out anew - and will continue to reach out -- to our Japanese neighbors who host our bases, becoming a part of their communities and inviting them to become part of ours. I am always impressed by reports of the thousands of Japanese who greet our ship visits and by the wide range of community relations projects that our young Marines, Airmen and Sailors undertake during their tours here. This helps explain why public support for the security alliance remains at the highest level ever.

Just as we are proud of our strong relations with the people of Japan, we are pleased by yesterday's announcement of steps to protect the health of American forces and families and Japanese workers at the Atsugi Naval Air Facility, which I visited yesterday. We welcome Japan's commitment to take the necessary measures to eliminate the serious health hazard from the Shinkampo incinerator. The ongoing installation of filters, the resumption of a joint U.S.-Japan monitoring program, and the construction of a taller smokestack. Let me assure all those who live and work at Atsugi -- American and Japanese alike, we intend to insure that this health treat is eliminated.

The progress on Atsugi reflects a fundamental truth of our partnership. The ultimate success of the alliance rests on the support of the people. Both nations recognize that -- as sovereign countries -- we share fundamental strategic interests that are best addressed through our alliance. Neither nation can be secure alone. We need to work together. Each of us brings unique strengths to our alliance. To borrow the words of Ambassador Foley, "We are equal partners who make different but complimentary contributions." For the United States, this includes our global strategic posture, our forward deployed forces in the Asia-Pacific region, payment of the vast majority of expenses associated with those forces, and our fundamental treaty commitment to the defense of Japan. Japan's contribution includes investments in the Self Defense Forces, the provision of bases and Host Nation Support. Host Nation Support is not a "sympathy budget," it is an integral part of Japan's security budget and an important contribution to stability in the Asia-Pacific. There are some who say that with the end of the Cold War, our alliance has lost its direction and purpose. Nothing can be farther from the truth. The past 50 years illustrate the resilience of our partnership, but we can't stand still. We must continually seek to refine our cooperation to meet future challenges. Japan and the United States are countries with different histories and cultures. Yet when historians look back on our alliance, they will see that it rests on shared values -- democracy, rule of law, human rights, and free markets. These values give purpose to our security alliance.

Let me close by recalling the visit of another American to Japan -- a visit by the noted American astronomer Percival Lowell more than a century ago. Reflecting on his travels, Lowell observed that our two peoples at times view the world somewhat differently. But he added, "When the American and Japanese way of looking at the world are brought together, the two pictures combined will yield results beyond what either could possibly have afforded alone."

For half a century, the picture of a combined Japan and the United States -- along with our regional allies and friends -- has yielded results beyond what any nation could have afforded alone, and perhaps the greatest tribute to that half-century of shared sacrifice is the picture of peace and stability we see today. To us -- Americans and Japanese alike -- falls the challenge of sustaining and supporting that tradition to ensure that picture endures tomorrow.

Thank you, Domo Arigato.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: usinfo.state.gov)

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