When the two countries upgraded their alliance relationship in 1996, Japan’s military operational sphere was expanded far from the Japanese main island. But the government remained deliberately vague about its responsibilities, and refused to clarify the geographic boundaries of Japan Defense Force activities.
日本政府从没有在台湾问题上有过与美国政府如此亲密的合作。1996年两国联盟关系升级的时候，日本的军事行动范围已经远远超出了日本本土范围。但是日本政府一直故意对他们的责任含糊其词，拒绝对日本防卫部队活动的地理边界范围作出明确划分。