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

On the Joint Statement from Japan-U.S. Security Consultative Committee meeting

Koike Akira, Japanese Communist Party Policy Commission chair, published the following statement on May 2 on the joint statement released following the "two-plus-two" meeting of the Japan-U.S. Security Consultative Committee (SCC) that included the Japanese foreign minister and Defense Agency director general, and U.S. secretary of state and secretary of defense.

The Japanese and U.S. governments held the Japan-U.S. Security Consultative Committee (SCC) meeting on May 1 in Washington, D.C. It confirmed the details of the plan to implement the "U.S.-Japan Alliance: Transformation and Realignment for the Future" which they agreed on last October. The SCC also published a document entitled "United States-Japan Roadmap for Realignment Implementation." The Joint Statement confirms that the two countries, "meeting global challenges," will expand their alliance cooperation in "enhancing regional and global peace and security" and emphasizes that this "will lead to a new phase in alliance cooperation." With this, Japan and the United States have confirmed that they will expand and strengthen their military alliance on a global scale in accordance with the U.S. preemptive strike strategy, turning it into an alliance of aggression. The Japanese Communist Party severely criticizes this agreement.

The Joint Statement cites plans to realign and strengthen the functions of a series of U.S. bases in Japan, emphasizing their commitment to "the timely and thorough implementation of the plan." Although it states, "Recognizing the Government of Japan's coordination with local communities, the Ministers confirmed the feasibility of the realignment initiatives," everyone knows that most Japanese local governments and residents affected by the realignment are opposing the strengthening of the functions of U.S. bases. The high-handed declaration that the two governments will thoroughly implement the plan in defiance of any opposition will further enrage the public and will only increase the opposition struggle involving local governments and residents irrespective of political affiliation. Such an attitude will also increase distrust and anger even among "Japan-U.S. alliance" supporters.

Concerning the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps commands to Guam, the "Road Map" states that Japan has promised to provide 6.1 billion dollars (about 700 billion yen) to cover the cost, adding that the relocation "is dependent on Japan's financial contributions." It is absurd for Japan to pay for the construction of U.S. bases in U.S. territory. What's more, the Guam relocation is part of the U.S. strategy that includes the combined operations of U.S. Marines with the Navy and Air Force, the reinforcement of U.S. bases, and the further deployment of U.S. Marines. Japanese and U.S. government officials have made clear that Japan's "contributions" will not be limited to the Guam relocation but that it will pay a total of three trillion yen for the entire realignment of U.S. forces in Japan. It is impermissible for the Japanese government to use such a huge amount of tax money to serve U.S. global strategy.

As clear from former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage's call for Japan's Constitution to be revised, this policy line of expanding the Japan-U.S. military alliance on a global scale and integrating the U.S. Forces and the Japanese Self-Defense Forces regards Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution as an obstacle. The transformation of the alliance will give impetus to increase pressure and activities to get the Constitution adversely revised.

The JCP will continue to oppose any moves to turn the "Japan-U.S. alliance" into a more aggressive alliance that involves the deployment of Japanese forces abroad and the strengthening of functions of U.S. bases in Japan while fighting for the abrogation of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty and the removal of U.S. bases from Japan. We will develop this struggle in conjunction with the struggle against an adverse revision of the Constitution.
- Akahata, May 3, 2006