Link to article: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/yellen-welcomes-us-japan-collaboration-in-indo-pacific-globally
Summary: Janet Yellen, US treasury secretary, asserted the importance of US-Japan collaboration in telephone calls with Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki. This happened as the US seeks to boost ties with Japan and other countries in the Indo-Pacific region. This is in order to maintain stability in the region as well as to ensure the abillity to counter China, as risks continue to come up with things like Taiwanese separation. With Japan and the US having many common priorities, this collaboration is practical. Yellen also talked about furthering the countries shared interests to relieve the pandemic.
Analysis: I believe this is a smart move because Japan and The US both have similar interests when it comes to things like China, and preventing their dominance over the world. They both could benefit from a mutual relationship where they work together towards a common goal. They also share another interest in supporting pandemic recovery efforts from COVID-19. They both can work together to supply vaccines, masks, PPE and recovery funds to smaller countries in need.
How does this relate to IR: This relates to the balance of power theory, where one or more states’ power is used to balance that of another state or groups of states. In this case, the US and Japans power can be used to balance that of the opposing country (China)