relocation

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

U.S. military realignment costs Japan 25,000 yen per capita

U.S. Deputy Undersecretary of Defense Richard P. Lawless on April 25 at a press conference in the Pentagon disclosed that Japan will bear the cost of more than 26 billion dollars to carry out the realignment of the U.S. forces in Japan.

In other words, the U.S. government is forcing Japan to spend three trillion yen, equivalent to about 25,000 yen per person, for the strengthening of U.S. base functions.

Lawless explained that Japan will pay about 20 billion dollars for the U.S. military realignment plan in Japan including the construction of a new U.S. base in Okinawa and six billion dollars for the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps Command from Okinawa to Guam, while the U.S. government will shoulder only about four billion dollars of the total cost.

Emphasizing that the Japanese government is responsible for covering all these costs, Lawless said, "This is a huge investment on their part in the (Japan-U.S.) alliance."

He also suggested that Japan may pay more since the cost estimates are "conservative."
- Akahata, April 27, 2006