Chapter 2
Japan’s Foreign Policy that Takes a Panoramic Perspective of the World Map
Section 2 North America
Overview
〈United States〉
Japan and the United States are strong allies sharing fundamental values and strategic interests. The Japan-U.S. Alliance is the linchpin of Japan’s diplomacy and security, and plays a major role in maintaining the stability and prosperity not only of the Asia-Pacific region but also of the whole world. Japan welcomes the United States’ rebalancing toward the Asia-Pacific, as it contributes to the stability and prosperity of the region. The two countries will cooperate closely in order to play a leading role in creating order in the region.
In April, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited the United States. This was the first official visit by a Prime Minister of Japan to the United States in nine years. On the occasion of this visit, both the leaders of Japan and the United States issued a Japan-U.S. Joint Vision Statement; a Japan-U.S. Joint Statement on the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT); and a Fact Sheet: Japan-U.S. Cooperation for a More Prosperous and Stable World. The two leaders concurred that the Japan-U.S. Alliance will continue to play a leading role in ensuring peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and the world. Also, Prime Minister Abe became the first Japanese leader to address a joint session of Congress. He presented a vision to create a world of peace and prosperity in the 21st century based on the strong ties between Japan and the United States as the two countries that share the same fundamental values.
President Obama and Prime Minister Abe at the Japan-U.S. Summit(April 28, Washington D.C., U.S; Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
The year 2015 saw close communication between top-level officials from the two countries, including the visit of Prime Minister Abe to the United States, the Japan-U.S. Summit held at the time of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Meeting in the Philippines, two Japan-U.S. Foreign Ministers’ Meetings, and the Japan-U.S. Security Consultative Committee (“2+2”). In addition, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement, led by Japan and the United States, was signed in February 2016, which further strengthened the Japan-U.S. Alliance. Through these opportunities, the two countries also closely cooperated in responding to global challenges, such as climate change and infectious diseases, while pursuing their cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, sending a strong message to the international community that Japan and the United States cooperate with each other in dealing with issues of urgent priority.
〈Canada〉
Japan and Canada are closely cooperating together in a wide range of fields including politics, economy, security and culture, as partners in the Asia-Pacific region, sharing fundamental values as members of the G7.
In November, Prime Minister Abe held a Japan-Canada Summit Meeting with Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau to exchange views on bilateral relations, including security, the TPP Agreement, the plan to export LNG from Canada to Japan, science and technology, as well as the situation surrounding East Asia and climate change issues. In the same month, Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida met Canadian Foreign Minister Ste（eの上にシングルクォーテーション）phane Dion, and confirmed cooperation in fields including the G7 meeting; nuclear disarmament; peace, stability and prosperity of the region and the international community; the TPP Agreement; the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21); and the rule of law. Also, Foreign Minister Kishida visited Canada and met Canadian Foreign Minister Ste（eの上にシングルクォーテーション）phane Dion in February, 2016, where they confirmed that the two countries will lead the international community in tackling the challenges that the G7 and Asia-Pacific regions face.