Japan Press Weekly

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2011 January 12 - 18 [US FORCES]

Japan to bear cost of transferring US flight training to Guam

Defense Minister Kitazawa Toshimi promised U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates that Japan will cover the cost of transferring part of U.S. fighter training exercises from the U.S. Kadena Air Base in Okinawa to bases in Guam.

During talks held on January 13 at the ministry office in Tokyo, they agreed that both governments will consider using Guam’s military bases jointly with Japan’s Self-Defense Forces.

They also reaffirmed their commitment to the Japan-U.S. agreement made last May on the construction of a new U.S. base in Okinawa’s Nago City as an alternative to the U.S. Futenma base in Okinawa’s Ginowan City.

In regard to the missile defense system which Japan and the United States are jointly working on, they confirmed that both sides will make adjustments to find ways to provide SM-3 Block IIA interceptors (a ship-based missile system) to other countries.

DoD Secretary Gates said, “It will be significant for us to be able to supply the MD system to other countries. I’m making efforts to gain Japan’s involvement in this.”

DM Kitazawa responded, “Japan will reach a conclusion within this year,” showing his willingness to further undermine Japan’s arms embargo policy.