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PacNet #61 – More than Futenma

Since former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama’s bungling of the relocation of the Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, it has become normal for Japanese and Western media outlets to report that the US-Japan alliance has weakened or is adrift. It is neither. While US-Japan relations have suffered damage at the political level, including a loss of trust, the fundamentals of the relationship remain strong. This strong foundation, in turn, enables continued bilateral cooperation in a wide variety of areas.