This does not mean that Abe’s Japan will become an ally like France under Jacques Chirac, spurning US leadership for the sake of it; instead, Abe seeks a policy of cooperation with the US that reflects the alliance's voluntary nature. He believes that, given the new balance of power in Asia, the alliance will be meaningful only if each partner has a real choice, and the wherewithal, to act autonomously or with regional allies.
在安倍晋三看来，日本需要尽一切可能重新实现独立决策，这样才能成功地应对中国带来的挑战。这并不意味着安倍晋三的日本会变成像希拉克治下的法国那样的盟友并敦促美国为了它而担起领导之责；相反，安倍晋三寻求反映自愿原则的与美国合作的政策。他认为，在亚洲新实力平衡的环境下，美国和日本都必须拥有自主或与地区盟友联合行动的真正的选择权和手段，惟其如此，联盟才会有意义。