[Title] Joint Statement of the Security Consultative Committee, Toward a Deeper and Broader U.S.-Japan Alliance: Building on 50 Years of Partnership ("2+2" Ministerial Meeting)
by
Secretary of State Clinton
Secretary of Defense Gates
Minister for Foreign Affairs Matsumoto
Minister of Defense Kitazawa
I. Preamble
As the U.S.-Japan Alliance enters its second half-century, the members of the Security Consultative Committee (SCC) affirmed that our Alliance remains indispensable to the security of Japan and the United States, and to the peace, stability, and economic prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region in the 21st century.
The Ministers met on June 21, 2011, and discussed the close collaboration between the Japanese and U.S. Governments in response to the March 11 earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear emergency. This cooperation, involving unprecedented joint operations by the Japan Self Defense Forces (SDF) and U.S. Armed Forces, has given renewed confidence to the Alliance and has deepened the friendship that the United States and Japan have built over the last half century as described in the SCC document, "Cooperation in Response to the Great East Japan Earthquake," issued in the SCC meeting today. Japan expresses heartfelt gratitude for the wide-ranging assistance provided by the United States, and the U.S. Government pledges its continuing support to Japan's recovery.
The SCC members recognized the need to continue to address challenges posed by the increasingly uncertain security environment, which includes: the expanding military capabilities and activities in the region; North Korea's nuclear and missile programs and its provocative behavior; the emergence of non-traditional security concerns; and other evolving threats, such as to outer space, to the high seas, and to cyberspace. The Ministers also noted increasing global challenges, including the ongoing struggle against extremism in Afghanistan and the Middle East. These challenges highlight not only the essential role of the Alliance in maintaining regional security and stability, but also the need for our two nations to deepen and broaden cooperation. Our shared values, democratic ideals, common interests, and respect for human rights and the rule of law remain the foundation of the Alliance. To meet these existing and emerging challenges, the Ministers noted the need to continue to strengthen Alliance capabilities by adapting our cooperation, modernizing our forces, enhancing interoperability, and cooperating in the development of new technologies.
The Government of the United States reaffirmed its commitment to the defense of Japan and the peace and security of the region, including through the full range of U.S. military capabilities, both nuclear and conventional. The Government of Japan reaffirmed its commitment to provide for the stable use of facilities and areas by U.S. forces and to support the smooth operation of those forces through the provision of Host Nation Support. The two sides welcomed the successful conclusion of a new agreement on Host Nation Support as described in the SCC document, "Host Nation Support," issued in the SCC meeting today.
The SCC members reaffirmed their commitment to implement steadily the realignment initiatives described in the May 1, 2006, SCC document, "United States-Japan Roadmap for Realignment Implementation" as supplemented by the May 28, 2010, SCC Joint Statement and the SCC document, "Progress on the Realignment of U.S. Forces in Japan," issued in the SCC meeting today.
Based on the SCC Joint Statement of January 19, 2010, the two governments conducted intensive consultations on deepening the Alliance in wide-ranging areas of common interest in the changing security environment. The Ministers endorsed the following results of these consultations:
II. Common Strategic Objectives
Based on the assessment of the changing security environment, the Ministers revalidated and updated the Alliance's Common Strategic Objectives of 2005 and 2007. The Ministers decided that the following represent Alliance Common Strategic Objectives:
* Ensure the security of Japan and strengthen peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.
* Enhance the capability to address a variety of contingencies affecting the United States and Japan.
* Deter provocations by North Korea; achieve the complete, and verifiable denuclearization of North Korea, including its uranium enrichment program, through irreversible steps and, through the Six Party process; resolve issues related to proliferation, ballistic missiles, illicit activities, and humanitarian concerns, including the matter of abductions by North Korea; fully implement United Nations Security Council resolutions and the September 2005 Joint Statement of the Six- Party Talks; and support peaceful unification.
* Strengthen trilateral security and defense cooperation with both Australia and the Republic of Korea.
* Encourage China's responsible and constructive role in regional stability and prosperity, its cooperation on global issues, and its adherence to international norms of behavior, while building trust among the United States, Japan, and China. Improve openness and transparency with respect to China's military modernization and activities and, strengthen confidence building measures.
* While welcoming the progress to date in improving cross-Strait relations, encourage the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues through dialogue.
* Encourage Russia's constructive engagement in the Asia-Pacific region. Realize full normalization of Japan and Russia relations through the resolution of the Northern Territories issue.
* Discourage the pursuit and acquisition of military capabilities that could destabilize the regional security environment.
* Strengthen security cooperation among the United States, Japan, and ASEAN and support ASEAN's efforts to promote democratic values and a unified market economy.
* Welcome India as a strong and enduring Asia-Pacific partner and encourage India's growing engagement with the region and participation in regional architectures. Promote trilateral dialogue among the United States, Japan, and India.
* Promote effective cooperation through open, multilayered regional networks and rule-making mechanisms, including the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM+), Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and the East Asia Summit (EAS).
* In order to support fragile states and promote human security, strengthen U.S.-Japan cooperation in areas of humanitarian assistance, governance and capacity building, peacekeeping operations, and development assistance.
* Prevent and eradicate terrorism.
* Seek the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons, while maintaining necessary deterrence. Promote the nonproliferation and reduction of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, and hold states accountable for violating their non-proliferation obligations.
* Maintain safety and security of the maritime domain by defending the principle of freedom of navigation, including preventing and eradicating piracy, ensuring free and open trade and commerce, and promoting related customary international law and international agreements.
* Maintain our cooperation with respect to protection of and access to space, and cyberspace where we share interests. Promote the resilience of critical infrastructure, including the security of information and space systems.
* Strengthen international cooperation on disaster prevention and relief.
* Promote the highest level of safety of civil nuclear programs, and enhance the capability to address nuclear incidents.
* Promote dialogue on the diversification of supplies of critical resources and materials, including energy and rare earths.
* Consult on efforts to enhance the ability of the United Nations Security Council to carry out its mandate and effectively meet the challenges of the new century through reform, looking forward to an expanded Council that includes Japan as a permanent member.
* Promote stability and prosperity in the Middle East and North Africa by pursuing opportunities to support and encourage democratic reforms.
* Ensure Iran's full compliance with its international obligations and return to serious negotiations with the P5+1 regarding its nuclear program. As part of the dual-track approach, the United States and Japan will continue robust implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions.
* While welcoming the launch of transition in Afghanistan, ensure sustained progress through continued support for the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF), and strengthen civilian efforts to promote effective governance and development.
* Support Pakistan's efforts to strengthen civilian governance and to implement economic reforms.
III. Strengthening of Alliance Security and Defense Cooperation
In order to address the evolving regional and global security environment, the SCC members decided to seek to enhance further bilateral security and defense cooperation.
The Government of Japan established the new National Defense Program Guidelines (NDPG) in 2010. The new NDPG aims to build a "Dynamic Defense Force" that is characterized by enhanced readiness, mobility, flexibility, sustainability and versatility, reinforced by advanced technology and intelligence capabilities. The Government of the United States reaffirmed its commitment in the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) to strengthen regional deterrence, and to maintain and enhance its military presence in the Asia-Pacific region and also affirmed its intent to tailor regional defense posture to address such challenges as the proliferation of nuclear technologies and theater ballistic missiles, anti-access/area denial capabilities, and other evolving threats, such as to outer space, to the high seas, and to cyberspace.
Reflecting the above newly developed national security strategies, the Ministers specified the following areas for emphasis:
(1) Strengthening Deterrence and Contingency Response
* The Ministers welcomed progress to date on bilateral planning and reaffirmed efforts to refine bilateral plans so that the U.S.-Japan Alliance can better defend Japan and respond to the range of regional challenges. These efforts will aim to strengthen bilateral whole-of- government mechanisms for peacetime and crisis coordination, and to improve contingency access by U.S. forces and the SDF to facilities in Japan.
* The Ministers stressed the need to study continuously the roles, missions, and capabilities of the United States and Japan, and confirmed the intent of this process to identify areas for strengthened operational cooperation.
* The Ministers decided to accelerate bilateral cooperation on non- combatant evacuation operations.
* The Ministers decided to expand joint training and exercises, study further joint and shared use of facilities, and promote cooperation, such as expanding information sharing and joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) activities, in order to deter and respond proactively, rapidly and seamlessly to various situations in the region.
* The Ministers welcomed the progress both countries have made in cooperation on ballistic missile defense. Regarding the SM-3 Block IIA cooperative development program, the Ministers decided to study future issues in preparation for transition to a production and deployment phase. In this regard, transfer of the SM- 3 Block IIA to third parties to be requested by the Government of the United States may be allowed, in accordance with the Exchange of Notes of June 23, 2006, concerning transfer of arms and military technologies to the United States of America, in cases where the transfer supports the national security of Japan and/or contributes to international peace and stability, and when the third party has sufficient policies to prevent the further transfer of the SM-3 Block IIA. The Ministers designated the Joint Arms and Military Technology Commission (JAMTC) as the consultation mechanism for such future third party transfers.
* The Ministers welcomed the establishment of a bilateral extended deterrence dialogue on a regular basis as a consultative mechanism to determine the most effective ways to enhance regional stability, including that provided by nuclear capabilities, in the near-term and long-term.
* The Ministers recognized recent progress to deepen our bilateral space security partnership through the U.S.-Japan Space Security Dialogue and possible future cooperation in areas such as space situational awareness, a satellite navigation system, space-based maritime domain awareness and the utilization of dual use sensors.
* The Ministers committed themselves to discuss new ways for the United States and Japan to confront the challenges posed by increasing threats in cyberspace and welcomed the establishment of a bilateral strategic policy dialogue on cyber-security issues. They acknowledged that effective bilateral cooperation on cyber-security will necessitate "whole of government" solutions and coordination with the private sector.
(2) Alliance Cooperation in a Regional and Global Setting
* The Ministers stressed the importance of promoting security and defense cooperation with countries that share common values in the region, including the aforementioned trilateral security cooperation. The Ministers encouraged efforts to promote trilateral and multilateral cooperation in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR) and other operations as the circumstances allow, through joint exercises and mutual logistics support.
* The Ministers also shared views on the importance of establishing a regional HA/DR logistics hub in Japan.
* The Ministers underlined the importance of further cooperation in international operations, including disaster relief, peacekeeping, reconstruction and anti-terrorism.
* The Ministers affirmed their intent to cooperate further in maritime security and counter-piracy to protect the freedom of navigation and ensure safe and secure sea lines of communication.
* The Ministers decided to continue cooperation on environmental issues related to both countries' forces.
(3) Enhancing Alliance Foundations
* Welcoming the progress to date, the Ministers emphasized the importance of further improving information security systems, including introducing government-wide security clearances and enhancing counter-intelligence measures, as discussed in the Bilateral Information Security Consultation. They also welcomed the Japanese Government's efforts to strengthen its legal framework for information security and expected that such efforts would lead to enhanced information sharing.
* The Ministers recognized the importance of continuously examining and enhancing bilateral frameworks in order to make operational cooperation more effective, more tailored to the emerging security challenges, and more responsive to various situations.
* The Ministers confirmed that closer cooperation in equipment and technology between the United States and Japan is a fundamental element of a strong Alliance. In particular, the Government of Japan will promote its ongoing study to respond to the trend toward international joint development and production, through which developed countries enhance the performance of equipment and deal with rising costs. The Government of the United States encourages these Japanese efforts.
As the Ministers reflect on the last fifty years of our Alliance, they take great satisfaction in all that has been achieved. At the same time, the Ministers recognized that our Alliance has never been more important or been faced with more significant challenges. In this context, both sides acknowledged the need to continue to take steps to deepen the intensity of consultations and coordination on the full range of security, strategic and political issues that face the region and the world.
(End)