ABSTRACT
It is very difficult to argue that the U.S. military presence in East Asia has not been the major factor in the stabilization of the region in the post-World War II era. Japan’s geostrategic position in East Asia has been the foundation of the American presence in Asia. The United States-Japan Security Treaty and the United States-South Korean Security Treaty have been the cornerstones of the U.S. military presence in the region, especially since the closing of the Philippine bases. In the post-Cold War era, the United States presence has been both a blessing and a curse for Japan. Japan has benefited greatly from the U.S. presence in the region. The region’s peace and stability have permitted Japan to grow and flourish under the Yoshida Doctrine. At the same time, Japan’s potential for regional leadership remains weak in light of the larger U.S. presence. To many, both inside and outside Japan, the presence of U.S. forces based in Japan is an infringement on Japanese sovereignty.2 They see Japan as still occupied by the United States, and they feel that Japan must find a way to assert itself in world affairs, independent of the United States.
