Due to its diversities in political and economic systems as well as in cultural and ethnic backgrounds, there has not been a development of a multilateral collective security institution in the Asia-Pacific region that is comparable to NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) in Europe. Instead, regional stability has been maintained primarily through the building up of bilateral security arrangements, with the United States at its core.

   Japan's stance is that it is practical and appropriate to develop and strengthen a multilayered framework for bilateral and multilateral dialogues while securing the presence and engagement of the US in the Asia-Pacific region in order to realize a stable security environment surrounding Japan as well as to ensure peace and stability in the region.