Ease Up on Japan

Today’s Washington Post weighed in on the question of U.S. Japanese relations raising concerns that the U.S. is being to harsh regarding issues regarding military bases.  The editorial acknowledges that the new Hatoyama government has had a rocky start, but asserts that we should give some room for them to gain some footing.  And forcing them to succumb to U.S. demand that contradict, at least in spirit, some of the party’s campaign promises leading to their win in the recent election will only serve to further destabilize the government, a result not in the U.S. interests.

Yet the administration must guard against allowing a diplomatic irritation to escalate into a major crisis with the most important U.S. ally in Asia. Though he has catered to Okinawans who oppose the U.S. military presence, and to nationalists calling for a more equal U.S.-Japanese security relationship, Mr. Hatoyama so far appears committed to the alliance.

I’m still educating myself on policy vis a vis Japan in advance of my trip, so my opinions are relatively uninformed.  But, on the surface, this approach does seem to contradict Obama’s lighter touch on international relations.  It would be ironic if we are, according to Secretary Clinton, “keeping the door open” with respect to talks with Iran, which generating new friction with our long time friends in Japan.