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| Image: Flickr User - U.S. Department of State |
By Bruce Klingner
Can the Japanese prime minister address the past and provide a vision for future cooperation?
History will be made on April 29. For the first time, a leader of Japan will address a joint meeting of Congress. Such recognition of a critical U.S. ally in Asia is long overdue.
Japan’s phoenix-like rise from the devastation of war is a testament to the country’s policymakers and citizens. It has blossomed into a vibrant democracy and the world’s third largest economy. Yet amidst the excitement of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s U.S. visit, there is also some trepidation over the degree to which he will handle still contentious issues of history.
There is much ground for Abe to cover in his address. During the last 70 years, Japan has been an exemplar of a responsible nation. Eschewing the violent militarism that led to catastrophe in the 20th century, Tokyo embraced passive foreign and security policies. The bilateral alliance has been a linchpin of American national interests in Asia, including maintaining peace and stability. But Japan has come to depend upon the United States for much of its defense.
Washington has long urged Tokyo to assume a larger role for its own defense and to be more active in addressing regional and global security concerns. Abe has overcome Japan’s national lethargy to fulfill some long-promised revisions to its national security posture.
Read the full story at The Diplomat