Freeman Report October 2009 - vol. 7, no. 10

The Japan-U.S.-China strategic triangle is carefully watched across East Asia as the touchstone for regional peace and stability. A U.S.-Japan alliance that overtly seeks to contain China risks a dangerous scramble for Cold War style alignments across the region. A U.S.-China relationship that is too close risks marginalizing Japan and the other middle and small powers with her. A Japan-China relationship that is too close puts the forward U.S. military presence at risk. Most states in Asia – not to mention Tokyo, Washington and Beijing —have therefore preferred to keep the triangle stable. And so all eyes are now on Tokyo as Japan’s new prime minister, Yukio Hatoyama, promises to put his own unique stamp on Japan’s relationships with the United States and China.