Speaking on the eve of Trump's inauguration, he called the U.S.-Japan alliance an "unchanging principle" for his country's foreign and security policy. "The Japan-U.S. alliance is the cornerstone of our country's foreign and security policy, in the past, present and in the future," Abe told parliament in an annual policy address. In the speech at the parliament, Abe also said the two allies, enemies in World War II, have a responsibility to show "the power of reconciliation" as they work together to contribute to global peace and prosperity. Abe reiterated his concerns about "heightened tension" in the region amid China's increasingly assertive maritime activity, and pledged to step up cooperation with other countries in the Asia-Pacific region, including India, Australia and those in southeast Asia. During his election campaign, Trump demanded that Tokyo pay more of the cost to keep the 50,000 U.S.