<Tr> <Td> Hong Kong Macau </Td> <Td> 1992 1999 </Td> <Td> See Hong Kong--United States relations and Macau--United States relations See United States--Hong Kong Policy Act and United States--Macau Policy Act </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Japan </Td> <Td> 1854 </Td> <Td> See Japan--United States relations <P> The relationship began in the 1850s as the U.S. was a major factor in forcing Japan to resume contacts with the outer world beyond a very restricted role . In the late 19th century the Japanese sent many delegations to Europe, and some to the U.S., to discover and copy the latest technology and thereby modernize Japan very rapidly and allow it to build its own empire . There was some friction over control of Hawaii and the Philippines, but Japan stood aside as the U.S. annexed those lands in 1898 . Likewise the U.S. did not object when Japan took control of Korea . The two nations cooperated with the European powers in suppressing the Boxer Rebellion in China in 1900, but the U.S. was increasingly troubled about Japan's denial of the Open Door Policy that would ensure that all nations could do business with China on an equal basis . </P> <P> President Theodore Roosevelt admired Japan's strength as it defeated a major European power, Russia . He brokered an end to the war between Russia and Japan in 1905--6 . Anti-Japanese sentiment (especially on the West Coast) soured relations in the 1907--24 era . In the 1930s the U.S. protested vehemently against Japan's seizure of Manchuria (1931), its war against China (1937--45), and its seizure of Indochina (Vietnam) 1940--41 . American sympathies were with China and Japan rejected increasingly angry American demands that Japan pull out of China . The two nations fought an all - out war 1941--45; the U.S. won a total victory, with heavy bombing (including two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki) that devastated Japan's 50 largest industrial cities . The American army under Douglas MacArthur occupied and ruled Japan, 1945--51, with the successful goal of sponsoring a peaceful, prosperous and democratic nation . </P> <P> In 1951, the U.S. and Japan signed Treaty of San Francisco and Security Treaty Between the United States and Japan, subsequently revised as Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan in 1960, relations since then have been excellent . The United States considers Japan to be one of its closest allies, and it is both a Major Non-NATO ally and NATO contact country . The United States has several military bases in Japan including Yokosuka, which harbors the U.S. 7th Fleet . The JSDF, or Japanese Self Defense Force, cross train with the U.S. Military, often providing auxiliary security and conducting war games . When the U.S. President Barack Obama met with Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso in 2009, he said the relationship with Japan as the "cornerstone of security in East Asia". After the several years of critical moment during Japan's Democratic Party administration, President Obama and Prime Minister Shinzō Abe reconfirmed the importance of its alliance and currently the U.S. and Japan negotiating to participate Trans - Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership . </P> </Td> </Tr> <P> The relationship began in the 1850s as the U.S. was a major factor in forcing Japan to resume contacts with the outer world beyond a very restricted role . In the late 19th century the Japanese sent many delegations to Europe, and some to the U.S., to discover and copy the latest technology and thereby modernize Japan very rapidly and allow it to build its own empire . There was some friction over control of Hawaii and the Philippines, but Japan stood aside as the U.S. annexed those lands in 1898 . Likewise the U.S. did not object when Japan took control of Korea . The two nations cooperated with the European powers in suppressing the Boxer Rebellion in China in 1900, but the U.S. was increasingly troubled about Japan's denial of the Open Door Policy that would ensure that all nations could do business with China on an equal basis . </P> <P> President Theodore Roosevelt admired Japan's strength as it defeated a major European power, Russia . He brokered an end to the war between Russia and Japan in 1905--6 . Anti-Japanese sentiment (especially on the West Coast) soured relations in the 1907--24 era . In the 1930s the U.S. protested vehemently against Japan's seizure of Manchuria (1931), its war against China (1937--45), and its seizure of Indochina (Vietnam) 1940--41 . American sympathies were with China and Japan rejected increasingly angry American demands that Japan pull out of China . The two nations fought an all - out war 1941--45; the U.S. won a total victory, with heavy bombing (including two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki) that devastated Japan's 50 largest industrial cities . The American army under Douglas MacArthur occupied and ruled Japan, 1945--51, with the successful goal of sponsoring a peaceful, prosperous and democratic nation . </P>

Countries america does not have diplomatic relations with