January 12, 2011
Defense Minister Kitazawa Toshimi agreed with his South Korean counterpart Kim Kwan Jin on January 10 to start discussions to reach the conclusion of a military equipment-sharing pact called the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA). Kitazawa stated that the ACSA discussions are part of measures to further develop military cooperation between Japan, the U.S., and South Korea.
Defense Minister Kitazawa Toshimi agreed with his South Korean counterpart Kim Kwan Jin on January 10 to start discussions to reach the conclusion of a military equipment-sharing pact called the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA).
At a press conference in Seoul, Kitazawa stated that the ACSA discussions are part of measures to further develop military cooperation between Japan, the U.S., and South Korea.
In response to the sinking of South Korea’s patrol boat in March and artillery attacks on its Yeonpyeong Island in November last year, the U.S. and South Korea have strengthened their hard-line stance toward North Korea.
The Japanese government, in its defense guideline published at the end of last year, proposed a revision of the Law on Situations in Areas Surrounding Japan in order to send the Self-Defense Forces to support the U.S. forces in case of an emergency on the Korean Peninsula. The new guideline also proposed that the nation strengthen military ties with both South Korea and Australia.
However, because of unsettled wartime issues between the two countries, South Korea faces strong domestic opposition that demands the government’s careful consideration of developing military collaboration with Japan.
Although Defense Minister Kitazawa also proposed that the two nations work to reach the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), the two sides postponed having concrete discussions in this regard due to South Korea’s cautious stance. The electronic version of the South Korean major daily newspaper Donga Ilbo pointed out that the South Korean government decided that the conclusion of such an agreement with Japan might provoke hostility among citizens who had experienced Japan’s colonial rule.
China, having a key role in working for a peaceful settlement of the North Korea issue, called for the resumption of the Six-Party Talks in November last year. However, Japan, the U.S., and South Korea turned down the proposal and had a closed meeting of their foreign ministers on December 6. Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen on December 8 encouraged Japan to take part in the U.S.-South Korea joint military training exercises.
Concerning this proposal by the U.S. military official, a spokesperson of the Chinese foreign ministry expressed that this may cause regional tension. Military cooperation between the three nations can become a further obstacle to a resolution of the North Korea issue.
At a press conference in Seoul, Kitazawa stated that the ACSA discussions are part of measures to further develop military cooperation between Japan, the U.S., and South Korea.
In response to the sinking of South Korea’s patrol boat in March and artillery attacks on its Yeonpyeong Island in November last year, the U.S. and South Korea have strengthened their hard-line stance toward North Korea.
The Japanese government, in its defense guideline published at the end of last year, proposed a revision of the Law on Situations in Areas Surrounding Japan in order to send the Self-Defense Forces to support the U.S. forces in case of an emergency on the Korean Peninsula. The new guideline also proposed that the nation strengthen military ties with both South Korea and Australia.
However, because of unsettled wartime issues between the two countries, South Korea faces strong domestic opposition that demands the government’s careful consideration of developing military collaboration with Japan.
Although Defense Minister Kitazawa also proposed that the two nations work to reach the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), the two sides postponed having concrete discussions in this regard due to South Korea’s cautious stance. The electronic version of the South Korean major daily newspaper Donga Ilbo pointed out that the South Korean government decided that the conclusion of such an agreement with Japan might provoke hostility among citizens who had experienced Japan’s colonial rule.
China, having a key role in working for a peaceful settlement of the North Korea issue, called for the resumption of the Six-Party Talks in November last year. However, Japan, the U.S., and South Korea turned down the proposal and had a closed meeting of their foreign ministers on December 6. Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen on December 8 encouraged Japan to take part in the U.S.-South Korea joint military training exercises.
Concerning this proposal by the U.S. military official, a spokesperson of the Chinese foreign ministry expressed that this may cause regional tension. Military cooperation between the three nations can become a further obstacle to a resolution of the North Korea issue.
