Abstract
From a Japanese perspective, the U.S. commitment to the Asia-Pacific under the Trump administration seems to be far more robust than many in the region worrisomely speculated during the presidential election campaign. Despite Donald Trump’s tough words on U.S. alliances in Asia and Europe as a presidential candidate, the administration’s approach in East Asia, centering on the alliances with Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK), has been positive and pragmatic, endorsing the importance of the hub-and-spoke network of bilateral arrangements between the United States and Asian partners. Visits to Asia by Secretary of Defense James Mattis in February and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in March, followed by Vice President Mike Pence in April, have signaled that the United States will keep emphasizing its Asia policy and cooperation with allies and partners in the region.
 
This essay discusses, first, how Japan sees the Trump administration’s commitment to Northeast Asian security; second, the implications of the Trump administration’s Asia policy; and third, the outlook for the U.S.-Japan alliance in the near future.
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