military

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

Cabinet okays Japan-U.S. 'final' agreement on realignment of U.S. forces in Japan

The government on May 30 approved the basic plan for the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan in defiance of opposition from local governments and residents concerned.

The government plan calls for an "adequate and swift implementation of the May 1 final report of the Japan-U.S. Security Consultative Committee meeting," including "legislative and budgetary steps."

Regarding the stationing of U.S. forces in Japan as the crux of the Japan-U.S. security setup, the basic plan said that the government will "ensure the stable use by USFJ of military facilities and areas in Japan," thus declaring that U.S. forces will be indefinitely stationed in Japan.

Concerning the plan to construct a new U.S. air base in Okinawa as the replacement of the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station, the government plan states that it will be carried out based on the May 1 agreement, virtually endorsing the latest Japan-U.S. ministerial agreement to construct a new air base with two, V-shaped runways on the shoreline of U.S. Camp Schwab. However, it failed to touch on the details, including its construction site. The government plans to establish a consultative body between the central government and the Okinawa Prefectural Government plus other related local governments in Okinawa.

The government plan also emphasized that it will implement the May 1 agreement on establishing a new U.S. Army command at U.S. Army Camp Zama in Kanagawa Prefecture and relocating U.S. aircraft carrier-borne aircraft from the U.S. Atsugi Naval Air Facility in Kanagawa to the U.S. Iwakuni Marine Corps Air Station in Yamaguchi.

Saying that Japan will pay the necessary costs for relocating U.S. Marines from Okinawa to Guam for an "appropriate and swift realignment of U.S. forces in Japan," the government actually pledged to pay 3 trillion yen in cost for the realignment. In this regard, the government plan calls for a review of the present five-year mid-term defense buildup program that began in fiscal 2005.
- Akahata, May 31, 2006