Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda met with U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House on April 30 and later issued a joint statement underlining the importance of "the U.S.-Japan Alliance" as "the cornerstone of peace, security and stability in the Asia-Pacific region."

Clearly an important point in the joint statement is China's military buildup, although there was no mentioning of China. It called for stepped up defense cooperation between Japan and the United States. Defense measures may serve to check China's moves, but they are unlikely to contribute to the creation of a trusting and stable relationship among the three nations. Japan and the U.S. should make serious diplomatic and other efforts to enhance such a positive relationship.

Mr. Noda is the first Democratic Party of Japan prime minister to make an official visit to the U.S. The joint statement is the first top-level joint statement since the one issued in 2006 by then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and then U.S. President George W. Bush. Apparently Mr. Noda tried to mend Japan's relationship with the U.S., which has become strained over the issue of the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma from the crowded urban area of Ginowan on Okinawa Island.