U.S. Ambassador Expects Moderate Deal with Japan

The U.S. Ambassador to Japan, George Glass, indicated that the deal over tariffs between the United States and the United Kingdom can work as a model for the U.S.-Japan bilateral negotiation in an interview of Yomiuri Shimbun. To maintain stability in Indo-Pacific region, Glass expected multi-lateral security frameworks to work, against speculation that the Trump administration will take distance from those groups for cooperation. 

Since he arrived Tokyo as new ambassador of Trump administration in April, it was the first interview of major Japanese media organization. At his arrival, he showed his optimistic view on U.S.-Japan tariff talks, based on the notion that Trump put highest priority on the issue. He also recognized difficult situation of Japan surrounded by Russia, China and North Korea, expecting closer U.S.-Japan relationship.

 

In the interview to Yomiuri, Glass touched on a possibility that U.S. may reduce tariffs on some goods, as seen in the deal with the U.K., which included cutting tariff on cars and dropped steel and aluminum from the list of imposing tariffs. “Now that we see what the U.K. has done, and the flexibility in some of those numbers, then you know, I think the invitation is open to be able to participate in something like that,” said Glass, as referring to U.S. expectation to minimize non-tariff barriers of Japan.

 

In the meantime, Glass hoped Japan to import more U.S. rice. Recognizing the price of rice has recently gone up, he suggested that more import of U.S. rice will help Japanese consumers. A few days after the interview, a Japanese major retailer, Aeon, announced at U.S. Embassy in Tokyo its decision to start selling rice from California, called Calrose, in its supermarkets all over Japan from June 6th.

 

Glass stressed necessity of close bilateral ties between the U.S. and Japan, considering regional instability brought by hegemonic moves by China. Quoting a review of the command and control frameworks of Japan’s self-defense forces and the U.S. forces in the Joe Biden’s administration, Glass indicated to advance the measures even in the Trump administration.

 

The ambassador explained that some multi-lateral frameworks, such as QUAD with Australia and India, and trilateral cooperation including South Korea or the Philippines, have importance, even though they are promoted by Biden administration. Following Trump’s remarks that Japan should contribute more to the bilateral security cooperation, Glass demanded Japan to increase defense spending, supposedly including for facility maintenance, personnel costs and weapons systems.

 

Glass emphasized his relationship with Japan. His eldest son has been living in Japan for thirteen years and his granddaughter was born in Japan. While Glass mentioned his commitment to cultivate friendship with Japan, he insisted his position to implement America First policy of President Trump.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Struggle over a Hearing on Accounting Manager

Without a simple majority in the House of Representatives, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) struggles against the opposition parties on inviting former accounting manager of Abe faction to the Committee on Budget. While the oppositions hope to keep the issue alive until the Upper House election this summer, the LDP wants to terminate the prolonged discussion over the slush fund scandal. The committee still cannot determine the date to begin discussion on FY 2025 budget.   The public prosecutors indicted former accounting manager of Abe faction, Jun-ichiro Matsumoto, with charge of wrong reporting about kickback fund of the faction. Tokyo District Court  sentenced  Matsumoto last September three years of imprisonment with suspension of five years. Matsumoto requested the LDP not to invite him to the Diet, because he had already told about the scandal in the court and had no further information to reveal.   The opposition parties have been demanding a hearing ...
Read more

Dilemma between Alliance and Constitution

  In the new year ministerial online meeting, Japan and United States resolved to work together to deal with various challenges by China. In the Joint Statement of the Security Consultative Committee, or “2+2,” the ministers of both government, US Secretaries of State and Defense and Japanese Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense, expressed their concerns on Beijing’s efforts, which were recognized as undermining the rule-based order in Indo-Pacific region and the world. On possible countermeasures, however, there still is a possibility of constitutional dispute in Japan over the principle of exclusively defensive security policy. The ministers referred to their concern about China’s activities in the East and the West China Sea. They reaffirmed to apply Article V of US-Japan Treaty of mutual Cooperation and Security to the Senkaku Islands, and strongly objected to China’s unlawful maritime claims, militarization and coercive activities in the South China Sea. They did not forge...
Read more

Defense Minister Admits Problem of Civilian Control

Concerning a series of scandals coming out from the Ministry of Defense (MOD), both Houses of the Diet held a recess discussion on the issue on July 30. To the questions of the opposition parties on why the Minister of Defense, Minoru Kihara, did not know about the scandal for months, Kihara   admitted   the problem was about civilian control. Kihara refused his stepping down as the minister, abiding by a request from the Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, to take leadership for rebuilding up the ministry. The discussion was focused on fraudulent record of allowance for divers in Maritime Self-defense Force (MSDF). Although the criminal investigation unit of MSDF arrested four members over the fraudulence last November, Kihara insisted that he did not know about it until it was disclosed in July 12. An officer of MOD explained that the staffs did not report it to the minister, because the incident would not affect other organizations outside the Self-defense Force.   The oppo...
Read more