Top > Announcement > Press Conference by Foreign Minister > February 8, 2012

(* This is a provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only. The original text is in Japanese.)

Press Conference by Minister for Foreign Affairs Koichiro Gemba

Date: Wednesday, February 8, 2012, 6:45 p.m.
Place: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Main topics:

  1. Opening Remarks - The realignment of the U.S. forces in Japan
  2. Q&A: (To be posted shortly.)

1. Opening Remarks - The realignment of the U.S. forces in Japan

Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba: At the outset, I would like to talk about the realignment of the U.S. Forces in Japan. I think that you have a handout of Japan-United States Joint press release. So let me touch on this.

Last Friday, with regards to the realignment of the U.S. Forces in Japan, I explained that Japan has been consulting with the United States with flexibility. On that occasion, I mentioned that I would like to indicate certain direction for the consultation as soon as possible though it would take some time. As you see in the paper, with regards to the future direction, the two governments now have a common understanding. Therefore, Defense Minister Tanaka and I visited Prime Minister Noda, and we reported to him and got his approval.
In the first paragraph of the joint press release, it is confirmed that the two governments remain committed to mitigating the impact on Okinawa, as well as to relocating of the Futenma Air Station to Henoko. We say that Japan will consult with the United States with flexibility, but it doesn’t mean that we accept the indefinite use of Futenma Air Station. Upon this basis, the press release, while pointing out the strategic importance of Guam, states that we are to work on the relocation of the U.S. Marines in Okinawa to Guam by delinking it from progress on the relocation of the Futenma Air Station. As a result, we would like to implement land returns south of Kadena from where it is possible. Through this process, the unit composition and the number of Marines who will relocate to Guam will be reviewed. However, even if the number of Marines who will relocate from Okinawa to Guam will be reduced, it is confirmed that there will be no change in the end-state size of Marines remaining on Okinawa in line with the existing Japan-U.S. agreement. This is what I mentioned on Friday.

As I have repeatedly stated, as for the relocation of the Futenma Air Station, we need to explain sincerely to people in Okinawa to gain the understanding of them. In this respect, it is important to mitigate the impact on Okinawa as expeditiously as possible, and to work on the removal of the danger associated with the Futenma Air Station, which is considered as an imminent issue, while making thorough explanation.
In fact, this Japan-U.S. consultation is aimed at achieving such an objective, and this press release clearly shows that direction. The reduction of the impact on Okinawa at the earliest opportunity and delinking of the package are the objectives that have been repeatedly requested by Governor Nakaima and local citizens.
In the light of the fact that stable presence of the U.S. Forces in Japan provides deterrence which is  essential for the security of Japan, both governments are fully aware of the need to respond to the voice of the people in Okinawa to the utmost extent.
From now on, we will have active consultations between the two governments in months ahead to come up with a conclusion.

2. Q&A: (To be posted shortly.)

- (To be posted shortly.)

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