What the US-Japan Alliance, the "Cornerstone of Peace in Asia" Means

The U.S. repeatedly described the U.S.-Japan "alliance" as a "cornerstone" of this and that, like in:

"The alliance between the United States and Japan is a cornerstone of America’s engagement in the region and an essential pillar of the Asia-Pacific security architecture... "(Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, January 13, in the meeting with Foreign Minister Okada Katsuya of Japan). "

What does it mean really?

Some data to share with you today, from the US Department of Defense website.
http://www.defense.gov/pubs/allied_contrib2003/chart_II-4.html
http://www.defense.gov/pubs/allied_contrib2003/chart_II-5.html

The most updated data available was from 2001.

- The total "host nation support" from all the 25 U.S. allies listed in these statistics was $7,446,430,000, approx. 7.5 billion dollars.

---Of this, Japan paid $4,614, 850,000, approx. 4.6 billion dollars.

--- It is approx. 62% of the total host nation support by all the 25 countries.

--- It is about 3 times as much as the total of the NATO allies ($1,561,720,000) paid.

--- It is about 6 times of what Korea paid ($804,980,000).

--- It is about 5 times of what Germany paid ($861,660,000).

- The "U.S. Stationing Cost Offset Percentage" for Japan, which is the percentage of what Japan paid against the total cost of US military stationing expenses, is 75.3%.

--- The average of the "U.S. Stationing Cost Offset Percentage" is about 50%. Some countries to compare with - Korea (38.9%), Belgium (40.1%), Saudi Arabia (54.3%), Germany (21.1%), Italy (34.0%), the United Kingdom (15.4%).

I wouldn't want to lose that "cornerstone" if it were underneath my house!

If I were a taxpayer of Japan, I would never accept such a situation.

If I were the Japanese Government, I would make sure the taxpayers in Japan get as little information as possible about these facts.

Especially the fact that Japanese taxpayers are paying more than $100,000 per capita, or "per soldier" every year, including the direct and indirect financial support,

Including the residences way more luxurious than ordinary Japanese civic servants', golf courses, entertainment facilities, shopping centres and the hefty utility bills.

I am not blaming those soldiers; I am blaming the Japanese taxpayers and voters who are allowing this to happen, including myself.

PeacePhilosopher