March 31 - This week I am traveling in San Francisco to participate in a U.S.-Japan Security Conference. I am grateful to the co-sponsors (the CSIS-Pacific Forum in Honolulu, the Tokyo-based Japan Institute of International Affairs and the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco) for providing this opportunity for American and Japanese experts to meet and exchange views on ways to enhance and strengthen our alliance. This year marks the fourth time for me to participate in this conference.

In past years I have noticed that the American side consists of many intellectuals with ties to both major political parties. Republican and Democrat experts alike agree on the importance to the United States of our bilateral relationship. Since the United States and Japan signed our "Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security" in 1960, the United States has elected five Democratic and five Republican presidents each of whom has continued this security alliance.

That is why I was so surprised during the United States presidential campaign last year that so many of my Japanese friends appeared concerned about the possible transition from a Republican to a Democratic administration. As I told them, campaign speeches are discussions of differences. The absence of political debate about an alliance with Japan, or the importance of Japan to our Asia policy, demonstrated the fundamental agreement of both major political parties. It also reflects strong public support in the United States for continuing the U.S.-Japan security alliance.

I look forward to our discussions this week on ways to further strengthen our security ties. I am also very interested in hearing from you about your ideas regarding our security alliance.

Until next time,

Jim