Ill STAT. 1940 PUBLIC LAW 105-85—NOV. 18, 1997 and national rivalries, and the unresolved territorial disputes combine to create a political landscape of potential instability and conflict in this region that could jeopardize the interests of the United States and the safety of United States nationals. (7) A critical component of the East Asia strategy of the United States is maintaining forward deployed forces in Asia to ensure broad regional stability, to help to deter aggression, to lessen the pressure for arms races, and to contribute to the political and economic advances of the region from which the United States benefits. (8) The forward presence of the United States in Northeast Asia enables the United States to respond to regional contingencies, to protect sea lines of communication, to sustain influence, and to support operations as distant as operations in the Persian Gulf. (9) The military forces of the United States serve to prevent the political or economic control of the Asia-Pacific region by a rival, hostile power or coalition of such powers, thus preventing any such group from obtaining control over the vast resources, enormous wealth, and advanced technology of the region. (10) Allies of the United States in the region can base their defense planning on a reliable American security commitment, a reduction of which could stimulate an arms buildup in the region. (11) The Joint Announcement of the United States-Japan Security Consultative Committee of December 1996, acknowledged that "the forward presence of U.S. forces continues to be an essential element for pursuing our common security objectives". (12) The United States and Japan signed the United States- Japan Security Declaration in April 1996, in which the United States reaffirmed its commitment to maintain this level of 100,000 United States military personnel in the region. (13) The United States military presence is recognized by the nations of the region as serving stability and enabling United States engagement. (14) The nations of East Asia and the Pacific consider the commitment of the forces of the United States to be so vital to their future that they scrutinize actions of the United States for any sign of weakened commitment to the security of the region. (15) The reduction of forward-based military forces could negatively affect the ability of the United States to contribute to the maintenance of peace and stability of the Asia and Pacific region. (16) Recognizing that while the United States must consider the overall capabilities of its forces in its decisions to deploy troops, nevertheless any reduction in the number of forward-based troops may reduce the perception of Americgmi capability and commitment in the region that cannot be completely offset by modernization of the remaining forces. (17) During time of crisis, deployment of forces to East Asia, even though such forces were previously removed from the area, might be deemed to be an act of provocation that
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