[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 95 (Wednesday, June 23, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H4709-H4711]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF UNITED STATES-JAPAN TREATY OF MUTUAL
COOPERATION AND SECURITY
Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 1464) recognizing the 50th anniversary of the
conclusion of the United States-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and
Security and expressing appreciation to the Government of Japan and the
Japanese people for enhancing peace, prosperity, and security in the
Asia-Pacific region.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 1464
Whereas January 19, 2010, marked the 50th anniversary of
the signing of the United States-Japan Treaty of Mutual
Cooperation and Security which has played an indispensable
role in ensuring the security and prosperity of both the
United States and Japan, as well as in promoting regional
peace and stability;
Whereas the United States-Japan Treaty of Mutual
Cooperation and Security, a cornerstone of United States
security interests in the Asia-Pacific region in general and
of the United States-Japan alliance, specifically, entered
into force on June 23, 1960;
Whereas the robust forward presence of the United States
Armed Forces in Japan, including in Okinawa, provides the
deterrence and capabilities necessary for the defense of
Japan and for the maintenance of Asia-Pacific peace,
prosperity, and regional stability;
Whereas the United States-Japan alliance has allowed the
United States and Japan to become the world's two largest
economies, with Japan occupying the position of the United
States fourth-largest trading partner;
Whereas the United States-Japan alliance has encouraged
Japan to play a larger role on the world stage and make
important contributions to stability around the world;
Whereas the United States-Japan alliance is based upon
shared values, democratic ideals, free markets, and a mutual
respect for human rights, individual liberties, and the rule
of law;
Whereas the hosting by Japan of approximately 36,000
members of the United States Armed Forces has been a source
of stability for both Japan and the Asia-Pacific region;
Whereas, on May 1, 2006, the United States-Japan Roadmap
for Realignment Implementation (hereinafter referred to as
``the Roadmap'') was approved in which Japan agreed to
provide $6,090,000,000 including $2,800,000,000 in direct
cash contributions, for projects to develop facilities and
infrastructure on Guam for the relocation of approximately
8,000 III Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) personnel and
their approximately 9,000 dependents from Okinawa to Guam;
Whereas the Roadmap will lead to a new phase in alliance
cooperation and reduce the burden on local communities,
especially those on Okinawa, thereby providing the basis for
enhanced public support for the United States-Japan alliance;
Whereas the Guam International Agreement, signed by
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and then-Japanese
Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone on February 17, 2009,
reinforces the May 2006 Roadmap to realign the United States
Armed Forces in Japan and strengthen the alliance;
Whereas, on May 28, 2010, the United States-Japan Security
Consultative Committee (SCC) reconfirmed its commitment to
the 2006 Roadmap and the February 17, 2009, Guam
International Agreement for the realignment of the United
States Armed Forces in Japan;
Whereas the United States-Japan security arrangements
underpin cooperation on a wide range of global and regional
issues as well as foster prosperity in the Asia-Pacific
region;
Whereas Japan has contributed significantly to the
stabilization of South Asia with a pledge in November 2009 to
provide $5,000,000,000 in economic assistance to Afghanistan
over the next 5 years, becoming the second largest
international contributor to Afghanistan, and with a pledge
in April 2009 to provide $1,000,000,000 to Pakistan over the
next 2 years;
Whereas in 2010, Japan's Maritime Self Defense Force is
sending a ship to Vietnam and Cambodia from May until July to
participate in the United States Navy's Pacific Partnership,
an annual medical aid mission aimed at enhancing Asia-Pacific
countries' capabilities in disaster relief, extending medical
support, and carrying out cultural exchanges;
Whereas the Government of Japan provided rapid and selfless
humanitarian aid to the Republic of Haiti, including sending
a Japan Self Defense Force unit to carry out disaster relief
activities, specifically medical activities, with regard to
the earthquake of January 2010;
Whereas North Korea's escalating missile and nuclear
programs present a direct and imminent threat to Japan,
including long-range missiles fired over northern Japan on
August 31, 1998, and April 5, 2009;
Whereas Japan has been a staunch ally in United States
diplomatic efforts to denuclearize North Korea, having moved
forward United Nations Security Council Resolution 1718
during Japan's Presidency of the United Nations Security
Council in October 2006; and
Whereas North Korea's abduction of innocent Japanese
civilians during the 1970s and 1980s represents a continuing
tragedy for the victims and their family members and must
remain a major human rights concern of the United States
Government: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes Japan as an indispensable security partner
of the United States in providing peace, prosperity, and
stability to the Asia-Pacific region;
(2) recognizes that the broad support and understanding of
the Japanese people are indispensable for the stationing of
the United States Armed Forces in Japan, the core element of
the United States-Japan security arrangements that protect
both Japan and the Asia-Pacific region from external threats
and instability;
(3) expresses its appreciation to the people of Japan, and
especially on Okinawa, for their continued hosting of the
United States Armed Forces;
(4) encourages Japan to continue its international
engagement in humanitarian, development, and environmental
issues; and
(5) anticipates another 50 years of unshakeable friendship
and deepening cooperation under the auspices of the United
States-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
California (Ms. Watson) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-
Lehtinen) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.
General Leave
Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from California?
There was no objection.
Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this
resolution, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.
This resolution commemorates the 50th anniversary of the United
States-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security, which entered
into force on June 23, 1960. This treaty formed the basis for the
presence of U.S. Armed Forces in Japan, which has contributed to
Japan's security and prosperity and to regional peace and stability.
Our alliance with Japan has advanced American interests by ensuring a
stable balance of power in the Asia-
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Pacific region, providing a platform for managing tensions on the
Korean peninsula and serving as a means to enlist Japan's cooperation
on regional and global security issues.
For example, Japan is the second largest international contributor to
Afghanistan, pledging $5 million in economic assistance over the next 5
years.
{time} 1330
Japan sent rapid humanitarian aid to Haiti, and the Japanese Self-
Defense Force provided medical relief following the earthquake there
this past January.
Japan to this day remains a steadfast ally with the United States in
combating the nuclear threat from North Korea and responding to the
North's provocative behavior.
The success of our alliance with Japan would not have been possible
without Japan's broad support and understanding, and I would like to
thank the Government of Japan and the Japanese people, and especially
the people of Okinawa where I taught for 2 years, for their continued
hosting of American Armed Forces in Japan. I taught the children of
these Armed Forces.
While Japan is an important partner and friend and we agree on many
important issues, there is one important matter on which we disagree:
the issue of American children taken to Japan by one parent against the
wishes of the other parent. This issue is a very real and serious
concern for those left-behind parents and for those of us representing
them here in Congress. It is imperative that our two governments create
the best possible situation for these tragic cases to be resolved, not
only for the sake of those families but to ensure that U.S.-Japan
relations continue on a positive trajectory.
As we commemorate this week the 50th anniversary of our alliance with
Japan, we know that the importance of this alliance remains as vital as
ever, even if the treaty's original Cold War backdrop has long faded
from view. We only have to look at North Korea's belligerent actions
over the past few years to be reminded of the relevance of the U.S.-
Japan security treaty. Now is the right time to pursue an ambitious,
forward-looking agenda to ensure that the fundamentals of the alliance
remain in place and to expand our security cooperation to meet the many
challenges of the 21st century.
I would like to thank my friend, the distinguished gentlewoman from
Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), the ranking member of the House Committee
on Foreign Affairs, for introducing this resolution, and I urge all of
my colleagues to support this legislation.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I rise in support of this resolution recognizing the mutual benefits
for the United States and Japan of a treaty which went into effect
exactly 50 years ago today. The Asia Pacific region was a dangerous
neighborhood a half a century ago. The United States and our allies had
just fought the first hot battles of the Cold War on the Korean
peninsula. Tensions were high in the Taiwan Strait, and the war in
Vietnam was just then emerging on the horizon.
A half century later, Asia, while now the prosperous trading hub of
the world, is still dangerous. One need only look to the recent
torpedoing of a South Korean naval vessel by a reckless North Korea to
recognize that the Asia Pacific region is not yet truly pacific.
Through all the perils in the Pacific, the United States-Japan Treaty
of Mutual Cooperation and Security has stood as a cornerstone of a
continued regional peace and prosperity. None of this would be possible
without the contribution of the people of Japan, and especially those
on Okinawa, through their continued hosting of our proud U.S. Armed
Forces.
The smooth transition from bitter adversaries to full partners is a
tribute to the resiliency and the farsightedness of two peoples on
opposite sides of the Pacific: the people of the United States and the
people of Japan. The recent reaffirmation of the commitment to full
implementation of the 2006 Roadmap and the Guam International Agreement
for realignment of U.S. Armed Forces in Japan is a concrete step
forward in cementing this crucial alliance.
The mutual cooperation promised in the treaty 50 years ago, however,
extends far beyond the Japanese islands. When the U.S. looked for
partners in dealing with the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in
Haiti earlier this year, Japan's Self-Defense Forces were there working
with their American counterparts.
On the critical issue of the stabilization of the volatile situation
in South Asia, Japan has been a generous contributor in economic
assistance to both Afghanistan and Pakistan. And Japan has been a
stalwart ally in our U.S. efforts to end the proliferation of nuclear
weapons and missile technology by the reckless regime in Pyongyang.
Both within the United Nations and during the Six-Party process in
Beijing, Japan has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with its American ally in
opposing continued North Korean nuclear brinksmanship. North Korean
threats and aggression continue. We should immediately re-list North
Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism. This is both because of
Pyongyang's past abductions of Japanese citizens and because of North
Korea's continued links to terrorist groups like Hezbollah and Hamas.
There is no greater signal that this administration can send to the
Japanese people in this treaty anniversary year than acting
expeditiously to hold North Korea fully accountable for such terrorist
activities.
I join in the anticipation expressed in this resolution of another 50
years of unshakable friendship and deepening cooperation with the
people of Japan.
Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my
support for H. Res. 1464, which recognizes the 50th anniversary of the
conclusion of the United States-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and
Security, and expresses appreciation to the Japanese government and
people for their contribution to peace, prosperity and security in the
Asia-Pacific area of the world. I am proud of the legacy of this
treaty, which has enabled the U.S. and Japan to establish and maintain
an alliance that has been vital to the stability of the Asia-Pacific
region and the economic strength of both parties. Fifty years after the
signing of the treaty, the U.S. can count Japan among its foremost
allies.
Looking back at the American-Japanese relationship over the last
century, the distance our nations have come from the wartime hostility
of the 1940s and the tensions of the 1950s is praiseworthy and
inspirational. Today, Japan is the fourth-largest trading partner of
the U.S., and the security and support the U.S. has provided to Japan
have enabled greater Japanese participation in humanitarian, economic,
and environmental issues at home and abroad.
As the Japanese government takes commendable action toward the
denuclearization of North Korea, it is important that the U.S. continue
to aid Japan and its neighbor states in their stand against the North
Korean regime. Japan has also shown exemplary leadership in the Asia-
Pacific region, contributing generously to earthquake relief efforts in
Haiti, economic programs in Afghanistan, and the U.S. Navy's Pacific
Partnership.
As the world's two largest economic powerhouses and staunch military
allies, Japan and the U.S. have profited immeasurably from the past 50
years of the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security. I look forward
to the future of the partnership of our two nations, with high hopes
for what we can accomplish together.
I urge my colleagues to support this important resolution.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in
support of the resolution recognizing the 50th anniversary of the
conclusion of the United Sates-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and
Security and expressing appreciation to the Government of Japan and the
Japanese people for enhancing peace, prosperity, and security in the
Asia-Pacific region.
The U.S.-Japan alliance has been tremendously beneficial to our two
nations. It has affirmed our shared values and bolstered peace and
stability in the Asia-Pacific region. This year, on the 50th
anniversary of the establishment of the United Sates-Japan Treaty of
Mutual Cooperation and Security, we have the chance to celebrate all
our two nations have achieved and all we will achieve in the future.
Since its inception, the U.S.-Japan alliance has had to deal with an
increasingly unpredictable global security landscape. Throughout
decades of Cold War to more recent terrorist threats, our alliance has
remained strong. This lends a context of security that has allowed the
Asia-Pacific region to thrive. Thanks to this important alliance, we
can anticipate greater international cooperation in the future, both
within Asia and between Asia and the U.S.
Another reason our alliance with Japan has been and continues to be
so effective is that
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it is supported by our two countries' common democratic and
humanitarian values. In 2009, both Japan and the U.S. ranked among the
top five nations providing foreign aid. In honoring what this alliance
has done for both our great nations, we are also reiterating our
commitment to provide needed humanitarian relief in the Asian-Pacific
region and all over the world.
Madam Speaker, I am proud to support this resolution honoring our
alliance with Japan and expressing our heartfelt thanks to the
government of Japan and the Japanese people.
Mr. McMAHON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to support H. Res. 1464, a
Resolution recognizing the 50th anniversary of the United States-Japan
Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security and expressing appreciation
to the Government of Japan and the Japanese people for enhancing peace,
prosperity, and security in the Asia-Pacific region.
For over 50 years, Japan has served as one of our most dependable and
consistent allies. The nation has hosted over 36,000 members of the
United States Armed Forces, promoting regional stability and security
in the Asia-Pacific region. Japan has been a staunch supporter in our
efforts to denuclearize North Korea. The nation has recently emerged as
a proactive force in rebuilding third world countries in efforts to
curtail the influence of terror cells. In November of 2009, Japan
pledged over six billion dollars in economic assistance to Pakistan and
Afghanistan in support of our missions in those countries. This special
alliance has allowed Japan to establish a prominent role in the global
community, further contributing to regional and global stability.
The U.S.-Japan alliance has bolstered both nations, making them two
of the world's largest and most influential economies. Mutual
cooperation has made Japan our fourth-largest trading partner. Apart
from strengthening trade with the U.S., Japan has aided our
international initiatives as well. Japan provided over six billion
dollars to Guam to develop infrastructure and facilities. This valuable
ally supports not only our economy, but those of our allies as well.
I am pleased with what Japan has grown to represent. Japan is a
beacon of democratic thought and practice in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Japanese government shares our ideals, values, and commitment to
civil liberties. Despite the constant challenges facing the
international community and the region, Japan has held steadfast in her
commitment to egalitarian values and world peace.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues in the House of Representatives
to join me today in recognizing and supporting our continuing alliance
by supporting this Resolution.
Mr. MANZULLO. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of recognizing the
50th anniversary of the U.S.-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and
Security. This agreement laid the cornerstone for reintegrating Japan
into the community of free nations and helped insure Japan's long-term
security and prosperity. It also resulted in formerly establishing an
alliance that facilitates the forward deployment of about 36,000 U.S.
troops and other U.S. military assets in the Asia-Pacific to undergird
U.S. national security strategy in the region. Too many times, we take
our friends for granted. It wasn't obvious 50 years ago that this
agreement would pass the Japanese Diet. But on June 19, 1960, this
agreement became operational after much boisterous opposition.
Thus, it is appropriate that the House recognize and thank our
Japanese friends for the role this agreement has played in advancing
peace, prosperity, and security in the Pacific Rim. It allowed a
country devastated by war to eventually become the fourth largest
economy in the world and the fourth largest export market for U.S.
products.
I deeply appreciate and value our strategic and economic relationship
with Japan. Despite the change in the Japanese government, this
agreement still remains as a cornerstone of our relationship. I was
greatly honored that the Japanese Ambassador paid a visit to northern
Illinois last April where we saw first-hand the role that Japanese
foreign investment played in saving many jobs in this region, such as
the Nissan forklift manufacturing facility in Marengo. We also examined
possible new opportunities for trade and investment.
I want to commend my ranking Member, Representative Ros-Lehtinen, for
bringing this resolution to the floor today. I urge my colleagues to
support H. Res. 1464.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson) that the House suspend the
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1464.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not
present.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.
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