Comparative Connections v.10 n.1 - U.S.-Japan Relations

Japanese domestic politics was in turmoil this quarter due to a divided legislature.  The deadlock centered on economic issues, much to the dismay of U.S. investors. The Fukuda administration signaled Japan’s sustained commitment to the U.S.-Japan alliance and international security by passing a bill re-authorizing Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) refueling operations in the Indian Ocean.  But a collision between an MSDF destroyer and a fishing boat, coupled with continued fallout from a bribery scandal last fall, put the focus more on structural reform at the Defense Ministry than new policy initiatives.  Rape allegations against a U.S. soldier and the detainment of another as a murder suspect sparked demonstrations against the U.S. military presence, though the two governments worked to prevent a crisis.  Bilateral coordination on the Six-Party Talks continued and there were hints of renewed interest in a trilateral consultation framework with South Korea.