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Japan-U.S. ministers in 2+2 meeting confirm 'timely and thorough' realignment of U.S. forces in Japan

At the Japan-U.S. Security Consultative Committee (SCC) meeting held on May 1 in Washington, D.C., Japan and the U.S. finalized the details of the plan to implement the "U.S.-Japan Alliance: Transformation and Realignment for the Future."

In a document entitled "United States-Japan Roadmap for Realignment Implementation," the U.S. urges Japan to implement the agreed realignment of U.S. forces in Japan and pay the greater part of the total cost of 3 trillion yen necessary for strengthening the functions of U.S. bases in Japan, including the cost of relocating part of Okinawa-based U.S. Marines to Guam.

Following the Japan-U.S. "interim" report published last October, the two governments have promised to push ahead with the plan to reorganize U.S. military forces and bases in Japan and further integrate the Japanese Self-Defense Forces with U.S. forces.

In the Joint Statement, the Japanese and U.S. ministers confirmed the need to increase the operational capabilities of U.S. forces in Okinawa, including the construction of a new air base on the shoreline of U.S. Camp Schwab, but it says, "following the relocation to the FRF, the return of MCAS Futenma, and the transfer of III (Third) MEF personnel to Guam, the remaining facilities and areas on Okinawa will be consolidated, thereby enabling the return of significant land areas south of Kadena Air Base." No details concerning the date of their return are given in the statement.

As regards the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture, the statement confirmed that "the relocation of Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5) squadrons from Atsugi Air Facility to MCAS Iwakuni" will be completed by 2014, following the "completion of necessary facilities, and adjustment of training airspace and the Iwakuni RAPCON airspace."

Concerning the U.S. Army Camp Zama in Kanagawa Prefecture, it stated that "U.S. Army command and control structure at Camp Zama will be transformed by U.S. Fiscal Year 2008. The headquarters of the Ground SDF Central Readiness Force subsequently will arrive at Camp Zama."

Thus the four ministers emphasized their commitment to "the timely and thorough implementation of the plan."

At the joint press conference later in the day, Nukaga Fukushiro, Japan's Defense Agency director general, stated, "At this juncture we can make a new start in our important U.S.-Japan relationship."

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice stated, "(I)ncreasingly, we share global responsibilities as well."

A Japanese minister stressed that the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps from Okinawa to Guam as referred to by the joint statement will help reduce burdens on Okinawa. However, U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld in the joint press conference said nothing about this, but just stated, "Together we've developed a realignment plan that will make Guam a key part of this alliance and the Pacific security architecture."

Rumsfeld also emphasized that the report "summarizes the implementation plans that will guide our realignment and thereby ensure the enduring capabilities of the alliance, built on a stable, sustainable U.S.-forward presence in the Pacific." He added, "We've incorporated realignments in the Japan Self-Defense Forces that complement U.S. realignments and will result in greater operational coordination than had existed previously."

The latest defense deal threw into relief the fact that the Japan-U.S. military alliance has come to "a new phase in alliance cooperation" while drastically increasing U.S. military capabilities to launch preemptive attacks anywhere in the world.
- Akahata, May 3, 2006