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WORLD NEWS Monday 20 January 2020

Japan's leader vows to boost nation's role in U.S. alliance

By MARI YAMAGUCHI "As the security environ-
Associated Press ment continues to evolve
TOKYO (AP) — Japanese and new challenges arise,
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe it is essential that our alli-
pledged Sunday to bolster ance further strengthen
his country's role under its and deepen," President
security pact with the U.S. Donald Trump said in a
in "outer space and cyber- statement marking the an-
space," as the allies marked niversary. "I am confident
the 60th anniversary of a that in the months and
treaty that has been the years ahead, Japan's con-
basis for their postwar de- tributions to our mutual se-
fense alliance. curity will continue to grow,
Abe's grandfather, Nobu- and the Alliance will con-
suke Kishi, who was prime tinue to thrive."
minister at the time, signed The bilateral security trea-
the treaty in Washington on ty, initially designed to fa-
Jan. 19, 1960, with President cilitate a greater U.S. pres-
Dwight Eisenhower. The ence in the Asia-Pacific
treaty allows for the station- region as a deterrence to
ing of tens of thousands of Soviet threats, is a legacy
U.S. troops and the deploy- of the Cold War era. Since
ment of American warships the collapse of the Soviet
in Japan. In exchange, the Union, Washington and
U.S. is obligated to protect Tokyo have redefined the Merrill Eisenhower Atwater, the great-grandson, left bottom, Mary Jean Eisenhower, granddaugh-
Japan in case of enemy at- pact as a pillar for main- ter of former U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, center bottom, and Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo
Abe pose for a group photo session as part of the 60th Anniversary commemorative reception of
tack. taining stability and pros- the signing of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty at the Iikura Guesthouse in Tokyo, Sunday, Jan. 19,
"We have elevated the re- perity in the region in the 2020.
lationship to one in which face of new threats from Associated Press
each of us, the U.S. and China and North Korea.
Japan, protects the other, Sunday's anniversary was tion hall. ibility with the U.S., as it in- has increasingly purchased
thereby giving further force also a time for the grand- President Eisenhower was creasingly works alongside costly American weap-
to the alliance," Abe said in children of the two leaders to visit Tokyo for a ratifica- American troops. He is also ons, including F-35 stealth
his opening remarks. "Go- who signed the treaty to tion ceremony and per- campaigning to achieve fighter jets, in an apparent
ing forward, it is incumbent revisit history. In his open- haps another round of his and his grandfather's attempt to reduce its trade
upon us to make it even ing remarks, Abe told Mary golf later in 1960, but the long-cherished dream of surplus with the U.S.q
more robust, to make it Jean Eisenhower, who was planned reunion never amending Japan's post-
a pillar for safeguarding a guest at Sunday's recep- happened because esca- war, U.S.-drafted pacifist
peace and security in both tion, that their grandfathers lating anti-U.S. military pro- constitution.
outer space and cyber- played golf together in tests in Tokyo forced him to In 2015, Abe reinterpreted
space." 1957 at Burning Tree Club cancel his trip and Kishi to Japan's constitution to al-
The anniversary comes as near New York, fostering a step down as prime minis- low the use of force in de-
Washington adds pressure friendship that led to the ter. fending Japan and its allies.
on Japan to shoulder more signing of the treaty. Abe has pushed for Ja- He has bolstered Japan's
of the financial cost and Abe and the younger Eisen- pan's Self-Defense Force defense budget, citing mis-
play a greater defense role hower together looked at to expand its internation- sile threats from China and
in the Asia-Pacific region photos of their grandfa- al role and capability by North Korea.
to make up for a receding thers playing golf that were bolstering cooperation Since Trump took office
U.S. presence. on exhibit outside a recep- and weapons compat- three years ago, Japan