Joint Statement by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld, Japanese Minister of Foreign
Affairs Taro Aso, and Japanese Minister of State for Defense Fukushiro Nukaga
Secretary Condoleezza Rice
Following a meeting of the United States-Japan Security Consultative Meeting
Washington, DC
May 1, 2006
The U.S.-Japan Alliance, with the U.S.-Japan security relationship at its core, is the indispensable foundation of
Japan's security and of peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and the linchpin of American security policy in
the region. This strong partnership is increasingly vital in meeting global challenges, and in promoting fundamental
values shared by both nations, including basic human rights, freedom, democracy, and the rule of law. The alliance has
successfully adapted itself to changes in the regional and global security environment, and it must continue to evolve
in depth and scope in order to address future challenges. To remain strong, this partnership must be reinforced by
continued firm public support in both countries.
At today's meeting, the Ministers, sharing the view that new and emerging threats pose a common challenge that affects
the security of nations worldwide, noted the increasingly close cooperation between their two countries on a broad array
of issues. The Ministers confirmed their desire to expand that cooperation to ensure the U.S.-Japan Alliance continues
to play a vital role in enhancing regional and global peace and security. The Ministers noted the importance of U.S. and
Japanese efforts to strengthen democracy in and reconstruct Iraq and Afghanistan, and to support reform efforts in the
broader Middle East. They committed to work closely on efforts to convince Iran to suspend all enrichment-related
activities and cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency's investigation, and agreed on the need for
concerted United Nations Security Council action.
As elsewhere in the world, the Asia-Pacific region faces persistent challenges that give rise to unpredictability and
uncertainty. The Ministers reconfirmed a shared commitment to the Joint Statement of the Six-Party Talks, and urged
North Korea to return expeditiously to the talks without preconditions, to dismantle its nuclear programs in a complete,
verifiable and irreversible manner, and to cease all illicit and proliferation activities. They reaffirmed the
importance of resolving regional disputes through diplomatic efforts, and called for greater transparency on the
modernization of military capabilities in the region.
In this security environment, the Ministers affirmed their commitment to close cooperation in realizing the common
strategic objectives the Security Consultative Committee (SCC) identified in February 2005. The Ministers stressed the
imperative of strengthening and improving the effectiveness of bilateral security and defense cooperation in such areas
as ballistic missile defense, bilateral contingency planning, information sharing and intelligence cooperation, and
international peace cooperation activities, as well as the importance of improving interoperability of Japan's
Self-Defense Forces and U.S. forces, as outlined in the recommendations on bilateral roles, missions, and capabilities
described in the October 2005 SCC document. In this context, the Ministers emphasized the importance of examining the
scope of security and defense cooperation to ensure a robust alliance relationship, and to enhance the alliance's
capability to respond to diverse challenges in the evolving regional and global security environment.
At the SCC meeting held today, the Ministers approved implementation details for the October 2005 realignment
initiatives, which are described in today's SCC document, "United States-Japan Roadmap for Realignment Implementation."
The Ministers recognized that the implementation of these realignment initiatives will lead to a new phase in alliance
cooperation and strengthened alliance capabilities in the region. The measures to be implemented demonstrate the resolve
of both parties to strengthen their commitments under the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty and, at the same time, to reduce
the burden on local communities, including those on Okinawa, thereby providing the basis for enhanced public support for
the security alliance. Recognizing the Government of Japan's coordination with local communities, the Ministers
confirmed the feasibility of the realignment initiatives. Recognizing also that completion of these realignment
initiatives is essential to strengthen the foundation of alliance transformation, the Ministers committed themselves to
the timely and thorough implementation of the plan, consistent with the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty and its related
arrangements. 2006/436
Released on May 1, 2006
ENDS