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

New U.S. training center will simulate scenarios on Japan-U.S. joint overseas operations: defense chief

Defense Agency Director General Nukaga Fukushiro on April 6 stated that a new U.S. training center to be established at U.S. Army Sagami Supply Depot in Sagamihara City in Kanagawa Prefecture as part of U.S. military realignment plan will be used to carry out training for Japan-U.S. joint military operations abroad. Nukaga stated this in answer to questioning by Japanese Communist Party representative Ogata Yasuo at the House of Councilors Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting.

Citing disaster relief operations using the military, Nukaga said, ﾒJapan and the United States can share common views on carrying out activities for international peace cooperation.ﾓ

Asked by Ogata if activities at the center will assume the SDFﾕs rear-area (logistic) support for U.S. forces, Nukaga said, ﾒCarrying out command post exercises for various situations will help increase operational capabilities of both forces.ﾓ He did not deny the possibility that the new center will include bilateral military operations overseas.

As part of the ongoing U.S. military realignment plan, the Japanese and U.S. governments are planning to create a new U.S. Army Corps command and a Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force Central Response Group command at U.S. Army Camp Zama.
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Nukagaﾕs replies showed that both governments are trying to use Camp Zama and the Sagami Depot as footholds for their overseas military operations.
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JCP Ogata warned that the plan will help perpetuate the existence of the base.
- Akahata, April 7, 2006