April 4, 2012
“The Japanese government should refuse to shoulder further burdens to meet U.S. expectations.” On April 3, Inoue Satoshi, Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Councilors, took up at the budget committee the issue of transferring the U.S. Marine Corps from Okinawa to Guam.
Quoting from a newspaper article, Inoue pointed out that the U.S. required Japan to pay 4 billion dollars for the expense of transferring U.S. military personnel to Guam although the number of Marine Corps moving to Guam has been reduced by half. “The government itself has repeatedly explained that the upper limit of Japan’s burden was 2.8 billion dollars as specified in bilateral agreement on the relocation. To further raise Japan’s share is unacceptable,” Inoue said.
Foreign Minister Genba Koichiro did not deny the possibility of accepting the increase in the financial burden. Inoue said, “It is unforgivable to give even more money to the U.S. military while forcing a consumption tax increase on the general public.”
Inoue pointed out that the Democratic Party of Japan had opposed the agreement related to the transfer of the Marine Corps to Guam when it was still an opposition party. When the foreign minister remarked that the LDP-Komei government adopted the best policy at the time, Inoue asked him, “How can you now claim that the policy was best when you objected it at the time?”
Inoue added that the fixed number of the Marine Corps stationed in Okinawa increased from 18,000 to 21,000 through the protracted discussions held between the U.S. and Japan. He emphasized that the burdens being imposed on Okinawan people are greater than ever.
Quoting from a newspaper article, Inoue pointed out that the U.S. required Japan to pay 4 billion dollars for the expense of transferring U.S. military personnel to Guam although the number of Marine Corps moving to Guam has been reduced by half. “The government itself has repeatedly explained that the upper limit of Japan’s burden was 2.8 billion dollars as specified in bilateral agreement on the relocation. To further raise Japan’s share is unacceptable,” Inoue said.
Foreign Minister Genba Koichiro did not deny the possibility of accepting the increase in the financial burden. Inoue said, “It is unforgivable to give even more money to the U.S. military while forcing a consumption tax increase on the general public.”
Inoue pointed out that the Democratic Party of Japan had opposed the agreement related to the transfer of the Marine Corps to Guam when it was still an opposition party. When the foreign minister remarked that the LDP-Komei government adopted the best policy at the time, Inoue asked him, “How can you now claim that the policy was best when you objected it at the time?”
Inoue added that the fixed number of the Marine Corps stationed in Okinawa increased from 18,000 to 21,000 through the protracted discussions held between the U.S. and Japan. He emphasized that the burdens being imposed on Okinawan people are greater than ever.
