http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2009/12/21/dpj-preparing-to-retreat/ Economics, Politics and Public Policy in East Asia and the Pacific Sun, 12 Feb 2012 22:50:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2 http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2009/12/21/dpj-preparing-to-retreat/comment-page-1/#comment-86484 Aurelia George Mulgan Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:43:38 +0000 http://www.eastasiaforum.org/?p=8688#comment-86484 I wonder why all the approbrium over the failure to resolve the Futenma issue has thus far been directed solely towards Hatoyama and his government. At least 50% of the responsibility for this failure should be borne by the United States - the other side in the negotiations. The United States has shown no respect for, or even understanding of the DPJ's overwhelming electoral mandate on this issue. It has adopted a rigid, uncompromising position - Henoko or nothing, It has not met the Hatoyama government even half way, plus getting some of its retaliation in in advance. Compromise is only an option for Japan. However, the United States also needs to think about the fall-out from this dispute for its alliance relationship with Japan, and perhaps display the flexibility needed to preserve a key relationship with a high-value strategic ally in NE Asia. A real crisis in the relationship may push Japan into the potentially advantageous but high-risk position of being a swing player between the United States and China, rather than becoming a mere dependency of China as Sakurai Yoshiko argues above. I wonder why all the approbrium over the failure to resolve the Futenma issue has thus far been directed solely towards Hatoyama and his government. At least 50% of the responsibility for this failure should be borne by the United States – the other side in the negotiations. The United States has shown no respect for, or even understanding of the DPJ’s overwhelming electoral mandate on this issue. It has adopted a rigid, uncompromising position – Henoko or nothing, It has not met the Hatoyama government even half way, plus getting some of its retaliation in in advance. Compromise is only an option for Japan. However, the United States also needs to think about the fall-out from this dispute for its alliance relationship with Japan, and perhaps display the flexibility needed to preserve a key relationship with a high-value strategic ally in NE Asia. A real crisis in the relationship may push Japan into the potentially advantageous but high-risk position of being a swing player between the United States and China, rather than becoming a mere dependency of China as Sakurai Yoshiko argues above.

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