In February 1995 the United States released the East Asian Security Review ( also know as the Nye initiative), which for the first time sought to sketch out American strategy for this part of the world in the post-Cold War period. It once again emphasized America’s long-term commitment to the security of the region and underlined the importance of the alliance with Japan as being the vital structure for the American-directed security system in the region. Indeed it presented the alliance as an indispensable part of America’s capacity to play its role as a global power. This was seen as non-controversial within the US and it also provided a rationale for re-energizing America’s other alliances in the region, including those with Australia and even the Philipines.