Japan Press Weekly

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2014 October 15 - 21 [POLITICS]

New Japan-US agreement may be tactic to secure Okinawa governor’s reelection

The Japanese and U.S. governments on October 20 announced that they largely agreed to conclude a new provision allowing Japanese officials to enter U.S. bases for environmental assessments as a supplement to the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA).

The announcement came just 10 days before the official start of the Okinawa gubernatorial election campaign, indicating the central government’s supposed intent to provide an advantage for incumbent governor Nakaima Hirokazu over his opponent in the election.

As the SOFA lacks provisions regarding Japan’s environmental surveys at U.S. base sites, it is impossible for local governments hosting U.S. bases to conduct a survey without permission from the U.S. forces. As a result, for example, in Okinawa, when U.S. base sites were returned to the prefecture, toxic chemical substances, such as PCB and lead, were detected there and soil contamination caused by these chemicals became a major obstacle to development of the returned sites.

According to the latest agreement, the two governments will work to set up a framework under which Japanese authorities will supposedly have access to U.S. military facilities and base areas for the purpose of investigating environmental incidents such as leakage of hazardous substances, and conducting an environmental survey prior to the return of any land. Base-hosting local governments, including Okinawa, have long demanded such a framework for environment damage assessments.

However, the effectiveness of the new deal on Japan’s access to U.S. bases is called into question because the privileges contained in the SOFA remain unchanged. Furthermore, the new provision calls on Japan to shoulder the cost for environmental protection measures at U.S. bases, leading to a possible increase in the “sympathy budget” for the U.S. forces in Japan.


Past related articles:
> JCP Okinawa: state should clean up toxic waste at former US base site [ February 14, 2014]
> Okinawan assembly amends environmental ordinance to allow authorities to enter U.S. bases for investigation of pollution [December 20, 2008]