zama

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Defense chief admits Japanese and U.S. forces will establish their new headquarters in U.S. Camp Zama

Defense Agency Director General Ono Yoshinori has admitted that the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) and the U.S. Army will establish in U.S. Camp Zama near Tokyo their respective army headquarters for wars abroad.

Ono said: "There was a rumor that the United States will relocate the U.S. Army I Corps to Camp Zama (from Washington State). But the real plan is that a new command known as a unit of employment (UEx) will be deployed. The UEx has been created for the purpose of carrying out preemptive attacks anywhere in the world. It will put the Striker Brigade Combat Team under its control. The SBCT can be deployed anywhere in the world within 96 hours.

Ono also admitted that the JGSDF's "central rapid respond group" will be set up in U.S. Camp Zama. "It will be convenient for a Japanese GSDF command and a command of the U.S. Forces to be stationed at the same base to enable them to jointly respond to emergencies." Ono thus made clear that Japan and the United States are promoting a further operational integration of U.S. forces and the Japanese SDF. -- Akahata, October 28, 2005