Japan and U.S. sign agreement to supply munitions with USF

By revising an agreement with the United States, Japan will allow the Self-Defense Forces to directly supply U.S. forces with arms and munitions.

Japanese Foreign Minister Kawaguchi Yoriko and U.S. Ambassador to Japan Howard Baker signed the revised Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement (ACSA) on February 27 in Tokyo.

The ACSA, concluded in 1996, provides the framework of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces' cooperation with U.S. forces in supplies and services. Such cooperation has been limited to four areas: Japan-U.S. joint exercises; U.S. wars in areas surrounding Japan; United Nations peace keeping operations; and international relief activities. The revised ACSA allows the SDF to extend such assistance to the U.S. forces to deal with military attacks or perceived attacks in connection with the U.S. preemptive attack strategy.

The agreement also provides that the SDF will assist the U.S. Forces in disaster and "other situations", thus enabling the SDF to carry out any kind of cooperation with the USF, reported Akahata on February 28.

Under the agreement, the SDF will support the U.S. Forces in 15 areas, including the transportation of weapons and munitions in addition to supplies and personnel, medical services, repair and maintenance of equipment.

The Japanese government wants the revised ACSA to be ratified in the current session of the diet along with bills related to the implementation of the war contingency laws. (end)