military

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Stop purchase of High-Speed Vessels to assist U.S. forces
Akahata editorial

Japan has begun considering procuring "high-speed vessels" (HSV) to fulfill a promise it made in the ﾒinterim reportﾓ published by the Japanese and U.S. governments on October 29, 2005 concerning the U.S.-Japan military realignment.

The HSV is a state-of-the-art warship that the United States has begun to introduce as part of the effort to put emphasis on its policy of preemptive war. The Japanese government, which has not previously considered purchasing it, is now seeking to become a more active supporter of U.S. forces. This can be taken as a manifestation of the Koizumi governmentﾕs extraordinary subservience to the Untied States.

A milestone toward Japan-U.S. military integration

This High-Speed Vessel can carry more than 1,000 personnel, eight helicopters, and more than 400 tons of supplies at a time while traveling at 80 kmph. It can transport supplies from Okinawa to South Korea in a matter of hours, and to Guam in two days instead of the four days required by an assault landing ship.

U.S. Marines stationed in Okinawa have a high-speed vessel on lease from Westpack for the purpose of transporting Marines to other Asian areas for training. The U.S. Marines Corps plans to have three HSVs in Asia, according to the commander of the U.S. Marine Corps Pacific, Lieutenant General Wallace C. Gregson. By using HSVs, the USMC will increase its global operational capabilities to intervene in conflicts anywhere, including in what they call anti-terrorism wars.

In a White House document of August 2004 concerning U.S. military transformation and realignment, the Bush administration calls for new and powerful means of transportation, citing HSVs as indispensable in preemptive wars.

This is why the Japan-U.S. interim report on U.S. forces in Japan calls for Japan to increase its maritime transport capabilities using HSVs as well as its airlift capabilities as part of its cooperation in transportation. This means that the Self-Defense Forces with HSVs will be incorporated in the U.S. preemptive war policy and used as a means of transportation.

Clearly, Japanﾕs introduction of HSVs is not for ﾒdefending Japan,ﾓ but for serving in U.S. foreign interventions. Given the governmentﾕs stated policy of using the SDF exclusively for ﾔself-defense,ﾕ the HSV is not necessary since it is designed to send military forces abroad. The 5-year Defense Buildup Program adopted by the government in December 2004 didnﾕt mention to the HSV. If the government completely ignores this in introducing HSVs, it will do more harm than good.

Reportedly, the Defense Agency has not decided yet on a new vessel, whether to procure a new one or use the high-speed Techno Super Liner (TSL) which was built for the Ogasawara route (between Tokyo and Chichijima Island) but was canceled. Whichever the case may be, the introduction of a high-speed vessel means that the Japanese Self-Defense Forces will take on the role of rapidly transporting U.S. combat forces to areas of conflict.

Taking part in transport operations during a preemptive war will inevitably mean integrating the Japanese Self-Defense Forces with U.S. military operations. This puts Japan on the course for war and therefore conflicts with the Japanese stated view that it is unconstitutional to involve Japan in military operations.

There is also the danger that the introduction of the high-speed transport vessel will accelerate the introduction of legislation to deploy the SDF abroad. It will also use an enormous amount of tax money.

Adverse current

The Koizumi Cabinet speaks as if Japan-U.S. military integration will improve Japan's position in Asia and the world. To the contrary, world opinion is increasingly in favor of the war-renouncing Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution as a guide to world peace. There are growing movements calling for international disputes to be settled through negotiations. The Koizumi Cabinetﾕs option to strengthen the Japan-U.S. military alliance as the only viable option forms an extraordinary adverse current in Asia and the rest of the world today.

The task now is to reject the policy of having the SDF take up a role with equipment that increases the possibility of war, and abrogate the Japan-U.S. military alliance.
- Akahata, January 11, 2006