ACCESSION NUMBER:00000
FILE ID:96041701.txt
DATE:04/17/96
TITLE:17-04-96 BACKGROUNDER ON PRESIDENT CLINTON'S VIEW OF PACIFIC SECURITY
TEXT:
(U.S.-Japan alliance is key to peace in East Asia) (1400)
By Al Sullivan
USIA White House Correspondent
Washington -- In President Clinton's view, America's reinvigorated
security arrangement with Japan is the essential ingredient in
assuring peaceful evolution of the Asia-Pacific area.
Midway through his three-day state visit to Tokyo, Clinton took note
of recent rumblings in the Taiwan Strait and on the Korean Peninsula,
calling them decisive arguments for continued deployment of 100,000
U.S. military personnel in the region.
"Our security alliance," the president said at a news conference held
jointly with Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto April 17, "is key to
maintaining a Pacific at peace, especially at this time of profound
regional change."
The reaffirmation of alliance ties provides for consolidation of
American bases on Okinawa and a return of some land to restive
residents there. But it maintains the current level of military
forces, even though the governor of Okinawa is now demanding
withdrawal of the U.S. forces by the year 2015.
Clinton sees an open-ended commitment to maintain troops in the
region, telling the news conference the American presence "is needed
as long as people have any fear at all that some countries might seek
to dominate others." He said it would be up to the people of affected
countries to determine when the U.S. presence is no longer welcome,
although he declared Washington's views would also need to be
considered.
Meanwhile, he said, the U.S. presence is insurance against parts of
Asia becoming a "battleground for any sort of security problem" that
would have an adverse impact on "the freedom and independence and the
safety of the people of Japan or our other allies in the area."
In Clinton's view, the fact that the U.S. presence is welcomed by
countries in the region reflects "the fact that everyone knows we have
no ulterior motive. We seek no advantage, we seek to dominate no
country, we seek to control no country, we seek to do nothing in any
improper way with our military power."
Clinton says the agreement allows the United Sates to cooperate with
Japan "in whatever way may be necessary as challenges come along." He
regards the reaffirmation of security arrangements not as a "dramatic
departure" from past practice, but as "the relationship between two
old friends maturing ... adjusting to the challenges of the world that
we now face."
The president pointed out the relationship with Tokyo goes far beyond
the important security ties just reemphasized to include a flourishing
trade relationship overcoming troublesome problems through persistent
negotiation. The U.S.-Japan Common Agenda -- including joint efforts
to conquer medical and environmental problems and to combat
international crime and narcotics trafficking -- benefits not only
Washington and Tokyo, but the international community at large.
That broad-scope partnership, Clinton contends, "is making a real
difference around the world." He cited particularly the common effort
to help finance reconstruction in Bosnia and called Tokyo's new $500
million relief package "extraordinarily generous." As in other areas,
he said, the Washington-Tokyo cooperation in Bosnia "is evidence of a
powerful commitment" by the two capitals "to lead the world toward
peace and freedom."
Clinton highlighted the American viewpoint on security issues by
helicoptering to the deck of the USS Independence in Yokosuka harbor
to address elements of the ship's carrier battle group. Recalling U.S.
participation in three wars in Asia in this century, the president
told the sailors and airmen of the Seventh Fleet that the "strong
presence" of U.S. forces is "preventing war's return."
As an example of what he meant, the president cited the recent turmoil
in the Taiwan Strait, noting the Independence was one of two U.S.
aircraft carriers sent to the region when Chinese missile firing tests
were added to normal winter maneuvers. The Chinese exercises were
explicitly aimed at intimidating Taiwan while its presidential
election campaign was under way. "Without firing a single shot," he
told the Independence battle group, "you reassured nations all around
the Pacific. Your deployment off Taiwan helped to calm a rising
storm."
Warning that there is "still a threat that war could return," Clinton
asserted the "stability and prosperity of Asia could be in danger,
and, therefore, so could America's. Old rivalries could break out
again. A rogue state could get the wrong idea. A changing region could
become unstable."
All of those possibilities are important to Americans, Clinton
suggested, not least because of the investment in blood made by U.S.
fighting men in previous conflicts. In addition, he noted, American
prosperity could be adversely impacted if warfare broke out. "With
your strong presence," he said, "we are preserving stability for a
remarkable region that is growing so fast it buys enough American
products and services to support the jobs of three million of your
countrymen and women back home in the United States."
Back home in the United States, he argued, "your loved ones are safer
because you are here at your station, keeping the peace in a time of
change and challenge."
Lending additional credence to the need for continued U.S. involvement
in the region, Clinton's deputy national security advisor, Samuel
Berger, told reporters the president was urged in Tokyo to pursue
stability in Washington's relations with the People's Republic of
China. Hashimoto, he noted, is a "strong leader" who told Clinton
during the Chinese military exercises in the Taiwan Strait that
Washington and Peking should seek stability in their relationship.
Hashimoto told the joint news conference he was gratified to learn
that Clinton and South Korean President Kim Young-sam proposed to
engage China in potential negotiations on the future of the Korean
peninsula.
Berger pictured U.S. relations with Japan as "pregnant with
possibilities. I really think relations are in the best shape they've
been in in 20 to 25 years. The Japanese would like to see stability in
the U.S.-China relationship, and the president reassured them that
that is what we're trying to do."
Winston Lord, assistant secretary of state for East Asian affairs,
briefing reporters on Clinton's business meeting with Hashimoto,
asserted there is "not one country in Asia with the probable exception
of North Korea that does not want the U.S. to stay on, to stay
engaged, to maintain our force levels as a balancing element, as a
force for stability and prosperity."
Lord credited the U.S. naval presence with playing "this important
role" in easing "the recent tensions in the Taiwan Strait." He said
that episode, in addition to problems at the Korean De-Militarized
Zone, "have reminded this region of our security interests and our
stabilizing presence."
Lord predicted that Clinton, in an address to the Japanese Diet, would
hold out the possibility that Washington and Tokyo -- in the next 50
years -- could "forge an alliance for the 21st century" that would
link "the two largest economies and two strong democracies" for the
benefit of themselves and the world.
Sandra Kristoff, senior director for Asia on the staff of the National
Security Council, told reporters Hashimoto obviously sought to engage
in personal diplomacy, forging a close relationship with Clinton; "he
wants to be able to pick up the phone and talk to the president," she
said of Clinton's host.
Hashimoto and Clinton, Kristoff said, concentrated on "the way the
security relationship has matured and how we're beginning to transform
it and get it ready for the 21st century." She described the security
arrangement now as one "based on common interests rather than trying
to contain common enemies."
Kristoff said Hashimoto thanked Clinton for deploying navy ships to
the Taiwan Strait, a step which Clinton described "as an effort to
encourage calm in the region." Both agreed on the importance of
engaging China "on a wide range of issues."
The leaders discussed developments in Bosnia, including their joint
efforts to help in implementing the reconstruction aspects of the
Dayton peace accord, Kristoff asserted.
Trade, Kristoff said, was "probably the one area where the two leaders
did not see quite eye to eye. Each made the points that needed to be
made and agreed ... on the need to build on the progress that we've
had over the last year."
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