The U.S.-Japan alliance remains the cornerstone for peace and stability in Asia even as it has adapted to changing threats, the commander of U.S. Forces Japan said during a news conference at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo yesterday.
Air Force Lt. Gen. Jerry P. Martinez said his 27 months in command of the 54,000 Americans who make up the joint U.S. force in the nation have been the honor of his life, and that he is extremely proud of the way American service members worked closely with members of the Japan Self-Defense Forces.
“Our alliance is built on shared values: respect for the rule of law and a commitment to freedom and prosperity for all,” he said. “It's an alliance that fundamentally respects the sovereignty of other nations while resisting coercion and aggression in all forms.”
The U.S.-Japan alliance was founded and remains as a “force for good and a champion for peace and security,” the general said.
Though the security situation in Asia is becoming increasingly complex, Martinez said, the two allies are able to change and cope with the shifting realities. “We face shared security issues that demand continued close cooperation and flexibility to adapt to changing conditions,” Martinez said.
Japan's leadership in Northwest Asia is vital, the general said.
The United…
