CAN US-JAPANESE TIES CHANGE?
Doug Bandow
The Korea Times, September 6, 2009
The Liberal Democratic Party has ruled Japan for most of the last 54 years. During that time the U.S.-Japan alliance has been a mainstay for both countries. But the Democratic Party's overwhelming victory could transform Japanese foreign policy. Such a change is long overdue.
In August 1945 Japan was disarmed and occupied. Gen. Douglas MacArthur acted as regent, writing Article 9 into Japan's constitution: "Land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained.''
The unstated political corollary was that Washington would be responsible for Japan's defense. This arrangement seemed logical until the Cold War deepened, especially after the triumph of Mao Zedong's Communist Party in China.
Moreover, some Japanese also grew dissatisfied with the "peace constitution,'' bridling at the assumption that the Japanese people possessed a double dose of original sin.
(...) [artículo aquí]
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