My Four Best Posts and Favorite Comment for Grading

1. http://alexfrancis.wordpress.com/2007/04/19/japanese-brazil-coin-and-its-hidden-message/

2. comment #4 on the above link

3. http://alexfrancis.wordpress.com/2007/05/02/us-commitment-to-extended-deterrence-for-japan/

4. http://alexfrancis.wordpress.com/2007/03/19/japan-and-australia-seeking-the-preservation-of-peace-through-liberal-methods/

5. http://alexfrancis.wordpress.com/2007/02/15/yasukuni-war-shrine-cause-for-disupte-with-chinese-foreign-minister/

U.S. Commitment to Extended Deterrence for Japan

Currently, the United States is the most powerful state in the international system. However, there is a continual struggle in international politics for a balance of relative power among states. Security is a major concern of states, especially from a realist perspective that would argue a self-help system. One such attempt to balance relative differences in military strength is to form bilateral or multilateral alliances among states.

Japan and the United States agreed on May 1st to conclude a treaty that will allow the two states to share information concerning ballistic missile defense and other military data. This agreement was the result of a series of information leaks involving Japanese Self-Defense Forces members.

The U.S. and Japan agreed that this new alliance will be consistent and complimentary to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in contributing to world peace and stability. Furthermore, Japan agreed to achieve broader cooperation with NATO in the future.

The underlying motivation behind this decision is the desire to be able to respond more effectively to emerging security challenges and to further protect classified materials. This can be seen in the ministers’ agreement to establish a task force on chemical, biological, radioactive and nuclear defense so that Japanese and U.S. forces can swiftly respond to such attacks.

In this way, Japan is being a very intelligent state in international politics. Not only is the Japanese economy heavily integrated with other economies throughout the world, Japan is also allying itself with the strongest military power in the world in order to advance the nation of Japan. From the perspective of the United States as well, having strong ties with a state such as Japan in East Asia has a number of benefits. Japan is a highly industrialized, technologically advanced, democratic, cooperative state that shares many of the same values as the Western United States such as human rights, peace, and liberal trade. It is only natural that these two states would want to cooperate in every way possible, to the extent that they can trust and rely on one another. Thus, international institutions such as NATO and the United Nations are essential in maintaining a political regime of principles, norms, and rules that the two states can agree upon.

Source: http://asia.news.yahoo.com/070501/kyodo/d8oron2o1.html

Follow Link for Longer Commentary: http://pols51.wordpress.com/2007/05/03/where-do-i-turn/