Publication

In light of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's April/May 2015 visit to the US, this brief examines the factors that are driving Tokyo and Washington to strengthen their security alliance with one another as well as the challenges confronting the partnership. More specifically, the author looks at 1) China’s and North Korea’s impact on the US-Japan alliance; 2) the history of the US-Japan alliance defense guidelines and their April 2015 revision; 3) China and South Korea's response to the revisions; and 4) the future of the alliance.