The U.S.-Japan security alliance is a vital component of U.S. engagement with Asia and a key contributor to security and prosperity in the region. Its vitality is important to the security of both countries and stability throughout Asia. It is therefore quite troubling to see that doubts now seem to beset the alliance, with both partners questioning the commitment of the other to the relationship. (For a more complete explanation and examination of the state of the alliance, see “Japan-U.S. Security Relations: Alliance under Strain,” available at the www.pacforum.org.)