[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 19 (Thursday, February 13, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S1409]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 58--RELATIVE TO THE TREATY OF MUTUAL COOPERATION AND 
              SECURITY BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND JAPAN

  Mr. ROTH (for himself, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Mack, and Mr. Rockefeller) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on Foreign Relations:

                               S. Res. 58

       Whereas, the Senate finds that the Treaty of Mutual 
     Cooperation and Security Between the United States of America 
     and Japan is critical to the security interests of the United 
     States, Japan and the countries of the Asian Pacific region;
       Whereas, the security relationship between the United 
     States and Japan is the foundation for the security strategy 
     of the United States in the Asia-Pacific region;
       Whereas, strong security ties between the two countries 
     provide a key stabilizing influence in an uncertain post-Cold 
     War world;
       Whereas, this bilateral security relationship makes it 
     possible for the United States and Japan to preserve their 
     interests in the Asia-Pacific region;
       Whereas, forward-deployed forces of the United States are 
     welcomed by allies of the United States in the region because 
     such forces are critical for maintaining stability in the 
     Asia-Pacific region;
       Whereas, regional stability has undergirded economic growth 
     and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region;
       Whereas, the recognition by allies of the United States of 
     the importance of United States armed forces for security in 
     the Asia-Pacific region confers on the United States 
     irreplaceable good will and diplomatic influence in that 
     region;
       Whereas, Japan's host nation support is a key element in 
     the ability of the United States to maintain forward-deployed 
     forces in that country;
       Whereas, the Governments of the United States and Japan, in 
     the Special Action Committee on Okinawa Final Report issued 
     by the U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee estalished 
     by the two countries, have made commitments to reducing the 
     burdens of United States forces on the people of Okinawa;
       Whereas, such commitments will maintain the operational 
     capability and readiness of United States forces;
       Whereas, the people of Okinawa have borne a 
     disproportionate share of the burdens of United States 
     military bases in Japan; and
       Whereas, gaining the understanding and support of the 
     people of Okinawa in fulfilling these commitments is crucial 
     to effective implementation of the Treaty;
       Now, therefore, it is the sense of the Senate that:
       (1) the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security Between 
     the United States of America and Japan remains vital to the 
     security interests of the United States and Japan, as well as 
     the security interests of the countries of the Asia-Pacific 
     region; and
       (2) the people of Okinawa deserve special recognition and 
     gratitude for their contributions toward ensuring the 
     Treaty's implementation and regional peace and stability.

 Mr. ROTH. Mr. President, I rise today on behalf of myself and 
Senators Thomas, Mack, and Rockefeller to submit a sense-of-the-Senate 
resolution expressing our gratitude to the Okinawan people for their 
contributions toward ensuring the viability of the Treaty of Mutual 
Cooperation and Security between the United States of America and 
Japan. My friend and colleague, Rep. Lee Hamilton, is submitting a 
similar resolution in the House of Representatives today.
  Mr. President, the Security Treaty forms the core of our bilateral 
security arrangements with Japan and of our overall security strategy 
for the Asia Pacific region. Those arrangements have helped provide the 
peace and stability that have undergirded the region's economic 
success--from which the United States has benefitted directly.
  To help ensure the viability of the Treaty, this past December, the 
United States and Japan agreed on terms to return roughly 20 percent of 
the land used by the American military. The Special Action Committee on 
Okinawa Final Report issued by the United States-Japan Security 
Consultative Committee sets out timetables for the return of the land. 
It also calls for training and operational procedures aimed at 
lessening the intrusiveness of American forces in Okinawa and 
improvements in certain procedures of the Status of Forces Agreement.
  Even with the coming changes, Japan will continue to provide our 
forces based in that country with significant amounts of host nation 
support. And no one in Japan shoulders a more disproportionate share of 
that burden than the people of Okinawa.
  For their many contributions to the United States-Japan relationship 
and the peace and stability of all the Asia Pacific region, the 
Okinawan people justly deserve our recognition and our sincerest 
thanks. That is precisely what this resolution does. But it also goes 
further: the resolution makes it clear that the continued support of 
the Okinawan people is crucial if we are to maintain a bilateral 
relationship that serves both our countries' interests, as well as 
those of the Asia Pacific and the entire world.
  In light of the need for the support and understanding of the 
Okinawan people, and of the prefecture's continuing economic problems, 
I hope the Government of Japan gives serious consideration to some of 
the ideas that have been circulating on making the prefecture into a 
bastion of free trade and investment. The surest cure for Okinawa's 
economic ills is a dose of fundamental market reform.
  Mr. President, I submitted a similar resolution at the end of the 
104th Congress. While that resolution was cleared for passage, Congress 
adjourned before we could take the measure up for final consideration. 
Because of the importance of the United States-Japan relationship, I 
urge all my colleagues to join me in making passage of this resolution 
possible this year.

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