Of course there are states that are less preferable to be allied with than the US.

That is not at issue.

The point raised by the initial article quoted is that Japan may well have been on the way to realigning policy and relationships that would have potentially meant certain current flashpoints and future issues that directly affect Japan could have been less serious in nature and resolved in an amicable manner.

If US interference for their own ends has prevented that situation being achievible that is not something to be celebrated or respected.

As for Australia and the US, to describe the former as a vassel state is quite accurate in my view. The UK is in a similar situation today with regard to the US.

6 Tornados and 2 sent on a mission at a time isn’t it? Clearly an independant and powerful nation at work there.