ABSTRACT
The period of unilateral commitment was a natural one, growing out of the events in the aftermath of World War II. The United States concluded that its self-interest could best be served by stable development in the newly independent countries of Asia. The Nixon doctrine of 1969 recognized this problem, and this led inevitably to the period of reassessment as the United States urged Asian countries to pay more attention to their own self-defense. The United States enjoys strong mature relationships with roost of the nations in East Asia, relationships of surpassing importance to both America and its Asian partners. The United States welcomes the commitment by the Japanese government to increase its defense spending. Japan's willingness to take on a greater share of its own defense within the bounds imposed by its constitution and political processes complements US defense increases and makes a major contribution not only to regional but to global security.
