{"id":7150,"date":"2010-05-28T19:39:50","date_gmt":"2010-05-29T04:09:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.dmzhawaii.org\/?p=7150"},"modified":"2010-05-28T19:39:50","modified_gmt":"2010-05-29T04:09:50","slug":"joint-statement-of-the-u-s-japan-security-consultative-committee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dmzhawaii.org\/?p=7150","title":{"rendered":"Joint Statement of the U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>The U.S. has squeezed Japan to sacrifice Okinawa and Guam for the base realignment.\u00a0\u00a0 But Okinawans will resist.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">&gt;&gt;&lt;&lt;<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><a href=\"http:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/region\/n-america\/us\/security\/scc\/joint1005.html\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/region\/n-america\/us\/security\/scc\/joint1005.html<\/a><\/div>\n<h2>Joint Statement of the U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee<\/h2>\n<div><strong>May 28, 2010<\/strong><\/div>\n<div><strong>by<\/strong><\/div>\n<div><strong>Secretary of State Clinton<br \/>\nSecretary of Defense Gates<\/strong><\/div>\n<div><strong>Minister for Foreign Affairs Okada<br \/>\nMinister of Defense Kitazawa<\/strong><\/div>\n<div>&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>On May 28, 2010, the members of the United States-Japan Security  Consultative Committee (SCC) reconfirmed that, in this 50th anniversary  year of the signing of the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security, <strong>the  U.S.-Japan Alliance remains indispensable not only to the defense of  Japan, but also to the peace, security, and prosperity of the  Asia-Pacific region. Recent developments in the security environment of  Northeast Asia reaffirmed the significance of the Alliance. <\/strong>In  this regard, the United States reiterated its unwavering commitment to  Japan&#8217;s security. Japan reconfirmed its commitment to playing <strong>a  positive role in contributing to the peace and stability of the region.<\/strong> Furthermore, the SCC members recognized that<strong> a robust forward  presence of U.S. military forces in Japan, including in Okinawa,  provides the deterrence and capabilities necessary for the defense of  Japan and for the maintenance of regional  stability.<\/strong> The SCC members committed to promote and deepen  security cooperation in wide-ranging areas to enable the Alliance to  adapt to <strong>the evolving challenges of the 21st century.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Ministers reaffirmed the commitment to reduce the impact on local  communities, including in Okinawa, thereby preserving a sustainable  U.S. military presence in Japan. In this context, the SCC members  expressed their shared commitments to relocate Marine Corps Air Station  (MCAS) Futenma and return the base to Japan as part of the Alliance  transformation and realignment process.<\/p>\n<p>The Ministers confirmed their commitment to implement steadily the  realignment initiatives described in the May 1, 2006, SCC Document,  &#8220;United States-Japan Roadmap for Realignment Implementation,&#8221; <strong>as  supplemented by this SCC Statement<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>The Ministers reaffirmed that, as provided for in the Guam Agreement  of February 17, 2009, the relocation of approximately 8,000 III Marine  Expeditionary Force (MEF) personnel and their approximately 9,000  dependents from Okinawa <strong>to Guam is dependent on tangible  progress toward the completion of the replacement facility. The  relocation to Guam will realize the consolidation and return of most of  the facilities south of Kadena<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Bearing this in mind, the two sides intend to verify and validate  that this Futenma relocation plan appropriately considers factors such  as safety, operational requirements, noise impact, environmental  concerns, and effects on the local community.<\/p>\n<p>Both sides confirmed the intention <strong>to locate the replacement  facility at the Camp Schwab Henoko-saki area and adjacent waters, with  the runway portion(s) of the facility to be 1,800 meters long, inclusive  of overruns, exclusive of seawalls.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In order to achieve the earliest possible return of MCAS Futenma, the  Ministers decided that a study by experts regarding the replacement  facility&#8217;s location, configuration and construction method would be  completed promptly (in any event <strong>no later than the end of  August, 2010<\/strong>), and that the verification and validation would  be completed by the time of the next SCC.<\/p>\n<p>Both sides confirmed the intention to locate, configure, and  construct the replacement facility in such a manner as to ensure that  environmental impact assessment procedures and construction of the  replacement facility can be completed without significant delay.<\/p>\n<p>The Ministers recognized the importance of responding to the concerns  of the people of Okinawa that they bear a disproportionate burden  related to the presence of U.S. forces, and also recognized that <strong>the  more equitable distribution of shared alliance responsibilities is  essential for sustainable development of the Alliance. <\/strong>Based on  the aforementioned recognition, the Ministers directed that, as  progress is made toward the replacement facility, concrete measures  should be taken expeditiously in the following areas:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Training Relocation<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The two sides committed to expand the relocation of the U.S. forces  activities, <strong>to include both bilateral and unilateral training,  outside of Okinawa<\/strong>. In this regard, utilization of Tokunoshima  will be considered, subject to development of appropriate facilities.  Japan Self-Defense Forces (SDF) facilities and areas <strong>in mainland  Japan may also be utilized<\/strong>. Both sides also committed to  examine the relocation of training outside of Japan, <strong>such as to  Guam.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Environment<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In view of shared responsibilities on environmental stewardship, the  Ministers instructed their staffs to discuss the potential for the  United States and Japan to take a &#8220;Green Alliance&#8221; approach to our bases  and the environment. U.S.-Japanese collaboration on a &#8220;Green Alliance&#8221;  would consider ways to introduce renewable energy technology into U.S.  bases in Japan and under development in Guam, <strong>including as a  component of Host Nation Support.<\/strong> The Ministers instructed  their staffs to consider promptly and seriously an agreement on the  environment, including reasonable access to U.S. facilities and areas in  cases of environmental incidents, and reasonable access to U.S.  facilities and areas for environmental surveys prior to land returns.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Shared Use of Facilities<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The two sides intend <strong>to study opportunities to expand the  shared use of facilities<\/strong> between U.S. forces and the SDF, which  would contribute to closer bilateral operational coordination, improved  interoperability, and <strong>stronger relations with local  communities.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Training Areas<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The two sides decided on the partial lift of restrictions on the use  of the &#8220;Hotel\/Hotel training area&#8221; and committed to continue to consult  on other measures.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Guam Relocation<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The two sides confirmed that, in accordance with the Guam Agreement  of February 17, 2009, the relocation of approximately 8,000 III MEF  personnel and their approximately 9,000 dependents<strong> from Okinawa  to Guam will be steadily implemented<\/strong>.The relocation to Guam is  dependent on tangible progress made by the Government of Japan toward  completion of the replacement facility. The U.S. side <strong>will  examine the unit composition of III MEF personnel remaining on Okinawa  in the context of overall theater security, including deterrence, <\/strong>while  accounting for the concerns of local communities.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Facilitation of the Return of Facilities and Areas South of Kadena<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The two sides confirmed that the return of facilities and areas south  of Kadena will be steadily implemented in accordance with the  Realignment Roadmap. In addition, the two sides decided that the  &#8220;Industrial Corridor&#8221; of Camp Zukeran (Camp Foster) and a part of  Makiminato Service Area (Camp Kinser) are priority areas for early  return.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Noise Reduction at Kadena<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The two sides <strong>affirmed their commitment<\/strong> to further  noise reduction at Kadena through such measures as expansion of both  bilateral and unilateral training outside of Okinawa, including  improvements to the aviation training relocation program, and steady  implementation of the Special Action Committee on Okinawa (SACO) Final  Report.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Communication and Cooperation with Communities in Okinawa<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The two sides affirmed their intention to intensify communication  with communities in Okinawa on issues of concern related to the presence  of U.S. forces. The two sides committed to explore cooperation in such  areas as <strong>information technology initiatives, cultural exchanges,  education programs and research partnerships.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As part of the effort to deepen security cooperation, the SCC members  emphasized the importance of ensuring a shared understanding of the  regional security environment and the role of the U.S.-Japan Alliance in  advancing common strategic objectives. Toward this end, the SCC members  committed to intensify the ongoing bilateral security dialogue. This  security dialogue will address traditional security threats, as well as <strong>focus  on new areas for cooperation.<\/strong><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The U.S. has squeezed Japan to sacrifice Okinawa and Guam for the base realignment.\u00a0\u00a0 But Okinawans will resist. &gt;&gt;&lt;&lt; http:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/region\/n-america\/us\/security\/scc\/joint1005.html Joint Statement of the U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee May 28, 2010 by Secretary of State Clinton Secretary of Defense Gates Minister for Foreign Affairs Okada Minister of Defense Kitazawa &#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212; On May 28, 2010, the &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dmzhawaii.org\/?p=7150\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Joint Statement of the U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[56],"tags":[2409],"class_list":["post-7150","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-pacific","tag-movements-resistance"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dmzhawaii.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7150"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dmzhawaii.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dmzhawaii.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dmzhawaii.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dmzhawaii.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7150"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.dmzhawaii.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7150\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7152,"href":"https:\/\/www.dmzhawaii.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7150\/revisions\/7152"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dmzhawaii.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7150"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dmzhawaii.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7150"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dmzhawaii.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7150"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}