Japan Press Weekly

Tweet

2010 December 15 - 21 [POLITICS]

DPJ again betrays public, gives sympathy to US forces

The Democratic Party of Japan has again broken its promise to the public, this time by maintaining the so-called “sympathy budget” for the stationing of U.S. forces in Japan.

The DPJ-led government on December 14 announced that the Japanese and U.S. governments agreed to keep the present level in the amount of the “sympathy budget” in FY 2010 (188.1 billion yen) for five years. They also agreed to renew the special bilateral agreement on the “sympathy budget”, that will be effective for five years from March 2011.

When the DPJ was an opposition party, it criticized the “sympathy budget” saying that it cannot gain public acceptance at a time when they are experiencing hardships under the nation’s severe financial situation. In addition, the DPJ in the 2009 House of Representatives general election promised to review the budget.

On April 25, 2008, with the majority vote of opposition parties, including the DPJ and the Japanese Communist Party, the House of Councilors rejected a bill on a special Japan-U.S. agreement on the “sympathy budget.”

As the reason for voting against the bill, the DPJ argued that the people can not accept the government policy of paying for the cost of stationing of U.S. forces in Japan amid the financial difficulties, and that Japan’s payment for the cost of the U.S. military presence is extraordinary compared to other U.S. allies. It also criticized the Liberal Democratic Party government for avoiding discussions with the U.S. government in regard to U.S. soldiers’ crimes committed in Japan.

Under the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement, Japan has no obligation to pay the “sympathy budget” in the first place. In addition, the nation’s financial conditions have further deteriorated since 2008 when the bill on a special Japan-U.S. agreement on the “sympathy budget” was concluded.

The DPJ provides no explanation about its approval of the latest Japan-U.S. agreement which contradicts the DPJ position in the Diet in 2008. The Kan administration must make clear why his party has reversed its stance on the “sympathy budget” in the ordinary Diet session to be resumed in January.
- Akahata, December 15, 2010