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Steady Implementation of Measures Concerning the USFJ

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Steady Implementation of Measures Concerning the USFJ Part 3 Three Pillars of Japan’s Defense (Means to Achieve the Objectives of Defense) Section 4 Steady Implementation of Measures Concerning the USFJ Under the Japan-U.S. Security Arrangements, the presence impact on local communities, including those in Okinawa, of USFJ functions as deterrence, while on the other hand, and maintaining the deterrent capability of the U.S. Forces. given the impacts of the stationing of the USFJ on the living Therefore, the MOD will advance the realignment and environment of the local residents, it is necessary to make other initiatives and make continuous efforts to gain the efforts appropriate for the actual situation of each area in understanding and cooperation of the local communities order to mitigate the impacts. In particular, the realignment hosting USFJ facilities and areas. of the USFJ is a very important initiative for mitigation of the Chapter 1 Stationing of the USFJ 2 and areas and the status of the USFJ, including the furnishing 1 Significance of the Stationing of the USFJ Japan-U.S. Alliance Japan-U.S. of facilities and areas for use by the USFJ (USFJ facilities and areas), and satisfying the labor requirements of the USFJ. In Given the increasingly severe security environment addition, the Supplementary Agreement on the Environment surrounding Japan, it is necessary to maintain the presence enhances cooperation for environmental stewardship relating of the USFJ and its readiness to make rapid and agile actions to the USFJ, and the Supplementary Agreement on Civilian in case of emergency in Japan and the surrounding areas Component intends to clarify the scope of the civilian even in peacetime, so that Japan-U.S. Alliance based on component, etc. Japan–U.S. Security Arrangements functions enough as a deterrent power that contributes to the peace and stability of (1) Furnishing of USFJ Facilities and Areas the defense of Japan and the region. Japan furnishes USFJ facilities and areas under the provision Therefore, Japan accepts the stationing of the US forces of the SOFA, in accordance with agreements reached through based on the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty and it is a cornerstone the Joint Committee between the Governments of Japan and of Japan-U.S. Security Arrangements. the United States. Also, it is essential to realize the stable stationing of the The Government of Japan concludes lease contracts with USFJ in order to make a swift joint response to an armed owners of private and public lands on which USFJ facilities attack to Japan based on Article 5 of Japan-U.S. Security and areas exist in order to ensure the stable use of these Treaty. In addition, the actions of U.S. forces for the defense facilities and areas. However, should the Government be of Japan are conducted not only by the USFJ but also by unable to obtain the approval of landowners, it shall acquire timely reinforcements. The USFJ is supposed to be the basis title2 under the Act on Special Measures for USFJ Land for them. Release,3 compensating the landowners for any loss they While Article 5 of Japan-U.S. Security Treaty stipulates may have suffered in the process. the duty of the U.S. to defend Japan, the U.S. is granted the use of facilities and areas in Japan based on Article 6 (2) Satisfying Labor Requirements of the USFJ for the purpose of maintaining the security of Japan and The SOFA stipulates that the manpower (labor) required international peace and security in the Far East. Therefore, by the USFJ shall be satisfied with the assistance of the though the duties of each side are not the same, they are Government of Japan. balanced overall. As of the end of FY2018, there were 25,842 USFJ local employees (hereinafter referred to as the “employees”) at 2 Measures concerning the Stationing of the USFJ USFJ facilities and areas throughout Japan, working as clerks at headquarters, engineers at maintenance/supply facilities, The SOFA1 stipulates matters pertaining to USFJ facilities 1 The official title is the Agreement Under Article VI of the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security Between Japan and the United States of America, Regarding Facilities and Areas and the Status of United States Armed Forces in Japan. 2 The term “title” means a legal cause that justifies a certain act. 3 The official title is the Act on Special Measures for USFJ Land Release, Incidental to the Agreement Under Article VI of the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security Between Japan and the United States of America, Regarding Facilities and Areas and the Status of United States Armed Forces in Japan. 327 DEFENSE OF JAPAN 2019 Steady Implementation of Measures Concerning the USFJ Section 4 members of security guards and fire departments on base, procedures for access to the site by GOJ and USG officials and sales staff at welfare/recreational facilities. They support in the event of off-base U.S. military aircraft accidents that the smooth operations of the USFJ. occur in Japan, and so on. The Government of Japan hires these employees in The major changes include clarification of expeditious accordance with the provisions of the SOFA. The MOD early entry into the inner cordon (restricted area) designated supports the stationing of the USFJ by performing in the event of an accident. The revised guidelines also administrative work for personnel management, payment of stipulate that entry into the site will be made with priority wages, health care, and welfare, etc. given more clearly to validated USG and GOJ representatives with responsibilities associated with accident site mitigation (3) Supplementary Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of to include hazardous material observation, the aircraft Environmental Stewardship accident investigation, or claims investigations; the U.S. In September 2015, the Governments of Japan and the United Forces will provide Japanese authorities with relevant States signed and effectuated the Agreement on Cooperation information especially on hazardous materials as soon as Chapter in the Field of Environmental Stewardship relating to the practically possible after an accident; in removing wreckage USFJ, supplementary to the SOFA. This supplementary that has the potential to affect the condition of the underlying 2 agreement represents an international commitment with Japanese property significantly and negatively, the U.S. legal binding force and sets forth provisions concerning Forces will coordinate with the landowner through the Alliance Japan-U.S. the issuance and maintenance of the Japan Environmental Regional Defense Bureau of the Ministry of Defense except Governing Standards (JEGS) and the establishment and when the situation otherwise dictates; and that when the U.S. maintenance, etc. of procedures for access to USFJ facilities authorities, GOJ authorities, or local authorities conduct and areas. This agreement was the first of its kind created environmental surveys, the results will be shared within the to supplement the SOFA since the SOFA had entered into Joint Committee framework. These changes enable more force and has a historical significance that differs essentially effective, expeditious and proper response to future U.S. in nature from conventional improvements in the operations military aircraft accidents. of the SOFA. 3 Costs Associated with the USFJ (4) Supplementary Agreement on Civilian Component In January 2017, the Governments of Japan and the United Various costs associated with the USFJ include the costs of States signed the Supplementary Agreement on Civilian stationing USFJ, costs for implementing the stipulations of the Component, which came in to force on the same day. The SACO Final Report for mitigating the impact on the people agreement clarifies the scope of the civilian component, which of Okinawa, as well as costs for implementing measures that is addressed only by a general provision in SOFA, develops contribute to mitigating the impact on local communities criteria used in evaluating contractor employee positions for associated with the initiatives for the realignment of the U.S. eligibility to receive designation as members of the civilian Forces. component, and stipulates the procedures for notification and review, etc. together with the exclusion of ordinary residents See Fig. III-2-4-1 (U.S. Forces Japan-related Costs (budget for FY2019)) from the civilian component. The initiative to formulate the Supplementary Agreement on Civilian Component is the second case, following the creation of the Supplementary 4 Host Nation Support (HNS) Agreement on the Environment that supplements the SOFA. HNS plays an important role to ensure the smooth and See Section 4-6 (Measures to Mitigate the Impacts of USFJ effective implementation of the Japan-U.S. Security Facilities and Areas) Arrangements. Due to soaring prices and wages in Japan since the mid-1970s, and changes in the international (5) The Revision of the Guidelines Regarding Off-Base U.S. economic situation, Japan began to bear labor costs such as Military Aircraft Accidents welfare costs in FY1978. Then in FY1979, it started to bear In July 2019, the Governments of Japan and the United States costs for the Facilities Improvement Program (FIP). agreed on the revision of the Guidelines Regarding Aircraft Furthermore, as labor costs soared due to changes in Accidents in Japan.4 This revision aims at further refining the economic conditions that affected both countries, the 4 The official title is the Guidelines Regarding Off-Base U.S. Military Aircraft Accidents in Japan. Defense of Japan 328 Part 3 Three Pillars of Japan’s Defense (Means to Achieve the Objectives of Defense) Fig. III-2-4-1 U.S. Forces Japan-related Costs (Budget for FY2019) Costs for Stationing of USFJ SACO-related costs Realignment-related (MOD-Related Budget: ¥388.8 billion (1)+(2)) (¥25.6 billion) costs (¥167.9 billion) Cost sharing for the stationing · Projects for land returns · Relocation of the U.S.
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