By Miho Matsuzaka

On May 1, Japanese and U.S. ministers in charge of foreign affairs and defense agreed on the realignment of the U.S. forces in Japan in a Security Consultative Committee meeting which finalized the three-year negotiations between the two countries.

This reorganization is based on not only transferring and realigning U.S. forces, but also on the fundamental modifications of military strategy. Following the simultaneous terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the U.S. is reconsidering the present military organization on a global scale in order to make the U.S. forces more mobile and one can deploy forces anywhere in the world quickly, and realign them accordingly.

Two big issues emerged, in the negotiations: the cost of transferring and personnel, and the military integration of Japanese and U.S. forces. In the first one, according to the final report, Japan will shoulder 59 percent the relocation costs of the airport at Futenma base and the costs of transferring the Marines in Okinawa to Guam, including the cost of the carrier-based aircraft unit relocation from Atsugi to Iwakuni.

This is being carried out in order to reduce the burden on Okinawa. However, from a military point view, this is a change in the organization by the U.S. government for U.S. forces. Iwakuni citizens are strongly opposed to this relocation and worry about this new burden.

The expenses Japan must pay is one of the biggest problems. It was decided that Japan bear $6.07 billion (about ￥70 million) out of the $10.27 billion of the Guam relocation costs (about ￥700 billion). Surprisingly, U.S. Vice-Defense Secretary Lawrence announced the projected total expense of the U.S. forces realignment will reach $26 billon (about ￥2.99 trillion) if the costs of the Guam relocation and the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan are added together. However, he did not mention the Japan's total expenses. His announcement was unclear, but there will be debate about this among the government party and the opposition parties in the Diet.

Payments for these changes will begin in 2007. Although Prime Minister Koizumi admitted the difficulty in gaining the nation's understanding about the heavy financial burden which he leaves to the new Prime Minister who will take over the regime in September, 2006.

The other big issue is the military integration of Japanese and U.S. forces. This military integration is the final report's keyword for the reorganization of U.S. forces in Japan, which is accelerated by the headquarters functional integration of Japanese Self Defense Forces and U.S. forces. The two countries enhancement of the alliances' capability is being carried out in phases such as sharing military information and joint training. The intention of the Japan and U.S. alliance is to maintain a deterrent power against any Eastern Asian threats.

On the other hand, Okinawa's burden will be reduced to some extent by transferring the Marines. However, its importance as a strategic stronghold has not changed. Moreover, the implementation of this Japan-U.S. realignment plan is revealed in the road map in detail which revealed such things as missile defense, Japan-U.S. wide-range joint training and military exercises with the Marines.

According to the final report, this re-alignment will take a long time. Also, any Post-Koizumi government, must build a new relationship based on the new Japan-U.S. alliance and also bear the responsibility for carrying it out. Although the Japanese government decided to pay a great amount of expenses for the relocation of U.S. forces in Japan, they must explain about it in the Diet. Japan has to pay this expense using citizens' taxes for many years to come. If citizens feel anger about this government's decision, they should express that to the government. On one hand, it seems as if Japan is a branch of the U.S. army, and on the other hand it seems Japan is employing the army by paying the cost. Prime Minister Koizumi should explain about the situation honestly. The government ought to adopt a policy in which they can gain nationﾕs agreement.