Japan signed a Japan-U.S. draft war plan

Japan's Self-Defense Forces has agreed with a draft of the Japan-U.S. defense planning and mutual cooperation in preparation for Japan's participation in U.S. wars in the Asia-Pacific region.

Nakatani Gen, Defense Agency director general, admitted this in an answer to Japanese Communist Party Koizumi Chikashi's question on March 19 at the House of Councilors Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting.

Koizumi's question was about a February 27 congressional testimony by Dennis C. Blair, U.S. Navy commander in chief that Japan and the U.S. had signed the first bilateral defense plan under the 1997 Guidelines for Japan-U.S. Defense Cooperation.

Koizumi criticized the Japanese government for endorsing such a war participation plan without making it known to the Japanese public.

The JCP Dietmember said that the concept of the draft defense planning was already put into practice when Japan and the United States held joint command post exercises in February, pointing out that not only Defense Agency officials but also those from the Health, Welfare and Labor Ministry, Land and Transportation Ministry, and other government agencies attended the exercises.

He said these exercises were for the practical application of Japan's military support, including the use of harbors and airports, including the mobilization of medical workers in the event of war in areas surrounding Japan. (end)