June 22, 2011
The Japanese and U.S. governments on June 21 officially agreed to build a new U.S. base with V-shaped runways in the Henoko district in Okinawa’s Nago City as an alternative facility for the U.S. Marines Futenma base in Ginowan City.
The agreement was made at a bilateral Security Consultative Committee meeting, known as the two-plus-two talks, in Washington D.C. It has been four years since the last SCC meeting was held under the former Japanese coalition government consisting of the Liberal Democratic and Komei parties.
“Initiated by the former LDP-centered government, the relocation plan is being carried out by the Cabinet led by the DPJ, the other force of the two major parties. It is historically significant that more than 80 percent of Japan’s political forces have taken part in this process,” said Defense Minister Kitazawa Toshimi at a press conference.
The DPJ-led government was originally calling for the transfer of the U.S. Futenma Air Station either outside Okinawa or Japan. However, it reversed its pledge when it approved the new base construction plan in the coastal area of Henoko in a bilateral agreement on May 28, 2010.
In the latest SCC meeting, it was also agreed to consider using Mageshima Island of Kagoshima Prefecture as a permanent site for field carrier landing practice (FCLP) by U.S. carrier-borne aircraft.
A joint statement issued after the meeting indicated a transfer to third parties of the SM-3 Block IIA, ballistic missiles jointly developed by the two nations, a significant move that will further undermine Japan’s ban on weapons exports.
Citing the need to “enhance the capability to address a variety of contingencies,” the statement confirmed Japan’s commitment to “provide for the stable use of facilities and areas by U.S. forces and to support the smooth operation of those forces through the provision of Host Nation Support.”
One item in the “Common Strategic Objectives” declares that the two parties, “[P]romote the highest level of safety of civil nuclear programs, and enhance the capability to address nuclear incidents.”
The agreement was made at a bilateral Security Consultative Committee meeting, known as the two-plus-two talks, in Washington D.C. It has been four years since the last SCC meeting was held under the former Japanese coalition government consisting of the Liberal Democratic and Komei parties.
“Initiated by the former LDP-centered government, the relocation plan is being carried out by the Cabinet led by the DPJ, the other force of the two major parties. It is historically significant that more than 80 percent of Japan’s political forces have taken part in this process,” said Defense Minister Kitazawa Toshimi at a press conference.
The DPJ-led government was originally calling for the transfer of the U.S. Futenma Air Station either outside Okinawa or Japan. However, it reversed its pledge when it approved the new base construction plan in the coastal area of Henoko in a bilateral agreement on May 28, 2010.
In the latest SCC meeting, it was also agreed to consider using Mageshima Island of Kagoshima Prefecture as a permanent site for field carrier landing practice (FCLP) by U.S. carrier-borne aircraft.
A joint statement issued after the meeting indicated a transfer to third parties of the SM-3 Block IIA, ballistic missiles jointly developed by the two nations, a significant move that will further undermine Japan’s ban on weapons exports.
Citing the need to “enhance the capability to address a variety of contingencies,” the statement confirmed Japan’s commitment to “provide for the stable use of facilities and areas by U.S. forces and to support the smooth operation of those forces through the provision of Host Nation Support.”
One item in the “Common Strategic Objectives” declares that the two parties, “[P]romote the highest level of safety of civil nuclear programs, and enhance the capability to address nuclear incidents.”
