Steady Implementation of Measures Concerning the USFJ 4
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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 ❶ Stationing of the USFJ ● 2 Signifi cance of the Stationing of the USFJ Measures concerning the Stationing of the USFJ Japan-U.S. Alliance Japan-U.S. 1 2 Given the increasingly severe security environment The SOFA1 stipulates matters pertaining to USFJ facilities surrounding Japan, it is necessary to maintain the presence and areas and the status of the USFJ, including the furnishing of the USFJ and its readiness to make rapid and agile actions of facilities and areas for use by the USFJ (USFJ facilities and in case of emergency in Japan and the surrounding areas areas), and satisfying the labor requirements of the USFJ. In even in peacetime, so that Japan-U.S. Alliance based on addition, the Supplementary Agreement on the Environment Japan–U.S. Security Arrangements functions enough as a enhances cooperation for environmental stewardship relating deterrent power that contributes to the peace and stability of to the USFJ, and the Supplementary Agreement on Civilian the defense of Japan and the region. Component intends to clarify the scope of the civilian Therefore, Japan accepts the stationing of the U.S. component, etc. Forces based on the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty and it is a cornerstone of Japan-U.S. Security Arrangements. (1)Furnishing of USFJ Facilities and Areas Also, it is essential to realize the stable stationing of the Japan furnishes USFJ facilities and areas under the provision USFJ in order to make a swift joint response to an armed of the SOFA, in accordance with agreements reached through attack to Japan based on Article 5 of Japan-U.S. Security the Joint Committee between the Governments of Japan and Treaty. In addition, the actions of U.S. Forces for the defense the United States. of Japan are conducted not only by the USFJ but also by The Government of Japan concludes lease contracts with timely reinforcements. The USFJ is supposed to be the basis owners of private and public lands on which USFJ facilities for them. and areas exist in order to ensure the stable use of these While Article 5 of Japan-U.S. Security Treaty stipulates facilities and areas. However, should the Government be the duty of the U.S. to defend Japan, the U.S. is granted unable to obtain the approval of landowners, it shall acquire the use of facilities and areas in Japan based on Article 6 title2 under the Act on Special Measures for USFJ Land for the purpose of maintaining the security of Japan and Release,3 compensating the landowners for any loss they international peace and security in the Far East. Therefore, may have suffered in the process. though the duties of each side are not the same, they are balanced overall. (2)Satisfying Labor Requirements of the USFJ The SOFA stipulates that the manpower (labor) required by the USFJ shall be satisfi ed with the assistance of the 1 Offi cial title: 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 justifi es a certain act. 3 Offi cial title: 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 317 DEFENSE OF JAPAN 2020 Steady Implementation of Measures Concerning the USFJ Section 4 Government of Japan. (5)The Revision of the Guidelines Regarding Off-Base As of the end of FY2019, there were 25,869 USFJ local U.S. Military Aircraft Accidents employees (hereinafter referred to as the “employees”) at In July 2019, the Governments of Japan and the United States USFJ facilities and areas throughout Japan, working as clerks agreed on the revision of the Guidelines Regarding Aircraft at headquarters, engineers at maintenance/supply facilities, Accidents in Japan.4 This revision aims at further refi ning members of security guards and fi re departments on base, the procedures for access to the site by Japanese and U.S. and sales staff at welfare/recreational facilities. They support Government offi cials in the event of off-base U.S. military the smooth operations of the USFJ. aircraft accidents that occur in Japan, and so on. The Government of Japan hires these employees in The major changes include clarifi cation of expeditious accordance with the provisions of the SOFA. The MOD early entry of USG and GOJ representatives into the inner supports the stationing of the USFJ by performing cordon (restricted area) designated in the event of an accident. administrative work for personnel management, payment of The revised guidelines also stipulate as follows; entry wages, health care, and welfare, etc. into the site will be preferentially made by USG and GOJ Chapter See Part IV, Chapter 5, Section 1-4-3 (Activities of the MOD for Coexistence with the Environment and Society) representatives with responsibilities associated with accident 2 site mitigation to include hazardous material observation, (3)Supplementary Agreement on Cooperation in the the aircraft accident investigation, or claims investigations; Alliance Japan-U.S. Field of Environmental Stewardship relevant information especially on hazardous materials will In September 2015, the Governments of Japan and the United be provided to Japanese authorities as soon as possible after States signed and effectuated the Agreement on Cooperation an accident; in removing wreckage that has the potential in the Field of Environmental Stewardship relating to the to signifi cantly and negatively affect the condition of the USFJ, supplementary to the SOFA. This supplementary underlying Japanese property, the U.S. Forces will basically agreement represents an international commitment with coordinate with the landowner through the Regional Defense legal binding force and sets forth provisions concerning Bureau of the Ministry of Defense basically; and that when the issuance and maintenance of the Japan Environmental the U.S. authorities, GOJ authorities, or local authorities Governing Standards (JEGS) and the establishment and conduct environmental surveys, the results will be shared maintenance, etc. of procedures for access to USFJ facilities within the Joint Committee framework. These changes and areas. This agreement was the fi rst of its kind created enable more effective, expeditious and proper response to to supplement the SOFA since the SOFA had entered into future U.S. military aircraft accidents. force and has a historical signifi cance that differs essentially in nature from conventional improvements in the operations of the SOFA. 3 Costs Associated with the USFJ Various costs associated with the USFJ include the costs of (4)Supplementary Agreement on Civilian Component stationing USFJ, costs for implementing the stipulations of the In January 2017, the Governments of Japan and the United SACO Final Report for mitigating the impact on the people States signed the Supplementary Agreement on Civilian of Okinawa, as well as costs for implementing measures that Component, which came in to force on the same day. The contribute to mitigating the impact on local communities agreement clarifi es the scope of the civilian component, which associated with the initiatives for the realignment of the U.S. is addressed only by a general provision in SOFA, develops Forces. criteria used in evaluating contractor employee positions for See Fig. III-2-4-1 (U.S. Forces Japan-related Costs [Budget for eligibility to receive designation as members of the civilian FY2020]) component, and stipulates the procedures for notifi cation and review, etc. together with the exclusion of ordinary residents 4 Host Nation Support (HNS) from the civilian component. The initiative to formulate the HNS plays an important role to ensure the smooth and Supplementary Agreement on Civilian Component is the effective implementation of the Japan-U.S. Security second case, following the creation of the Supplementary Arrangements. Due to soaring prices and wages in Japan Agreement on the Environment that supplements the SOFA. since the mid-1970s, and changes in the international economic situation, Japan began to bear labor costs such as 4 Offi cial title: Guidelines Regarding Off-Base U.S. Military Aircraft Accidents in Japan. Defense of Japan 318 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 FY2020) Costs for the stationing of USFJ SACO-related costs Realignment-related costs (MOD-related