military

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Why must Japan pay costs for U.S. base in Guam?
Akahata editorial (excerpts)

The Japanese government is planning to pay the costs necessary for constructing a new U.S. base in Guam to relocate 7,000 U.S. Marines from Okinawa. Japan already pays 600 billion yen that covers most of the costs of stationing U.S. forces in Japan. The plan is based on the "interim report" agreed upon in October by the Japanese and U.S. governments concerning the "transformation and realignment" of the Japan-U.S. alliance.

In the October meeting of Japanese and U.S. foreign and defense ministers, then Defense Agency Director General Ohno Yoshinori promised that as regards large amounts of money needed for the realignment, Japan will be ready to say, "Oh, yes" (instead of 'Oh, No', like his name 'Ohno').

Arguing that the relocation of the 7,000 U.S. Marines from Okinawa to Guam will help reduce Okinawa's burdens, the Japanese government speaks as if Japan ought to increase its share of the costs needed to relocate U.S. forces. This is ridiculous.

To begin with, the United States had planned to relocate 7,000 Marines from Okinawa to Guam with the aim of establishing another stepping-stone in Guam. After summarizing the DoD realignment plan, the U.S. Overseas Basing Review Commission Interim Report issued in May hinted at relocating the U.S. III Marine Expeditionary command from Okinawa to Guam, a reduction of "up to 8,000" U.S. Marines in Okinawa.

The Bush administration's preemptive war strategy regards Guam as a major U.S. forward deployment base in the global military transformation plans. The U.S. Air Force deploys strategic bombers and two tactical aircraft squadrons and the Navy has nuclear attack submarines on the island. The U.S. Marine Corps also plans to turn the island into a major sortie base, in addition to its bases in Okinawa, Hawaii, and the U.S. West Coast.

The strengthening of the U.S. base in Guam is underway in conjunction with Okinawa, and there is no guarantee that Okinawa's military burden will be reduced. The Japan-U.S. "interim report" puts forward a plan to redistribute U.S. forces' capabilities among Hawaii, Guam, and Okinawa to be able to respond to various crises. This includes a plan to construct a new U.S. Marine Corps base in the Henoko district of Nago City, Okinawa.

The U.S. Congress Overseas Basing Commission estimates that the cost for the new base in Guam, including facilities for a new command post and housing for Marines' family members at about 330 billion yen (or 2.9 billion dollars). Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Richard Lawless has said that an upward revision to the cost estimate may be needed.

If Japan is to shoulder the costs of new U.S. bases in Nago and Guam, it will mean financially supporting the U.S. preemptive war policy.

Under the Status of U.S. Forces in Japan Agreement (SOFA), Japan is not required to pay costs for strengthening U.S. bases. It is unacceptable for the Koizumi Cabinet to seek to establish a special measures law to use tax money to help in U.S. military realignment plans overseas.
- Akahata, November 24, 2005