2 Japan-U.S. Security Arrangements

(1) Overview of Japan-U.S. Security Relationship

Under the security environment surrounding Japan, which is becoming increasingly severe, it is indispensable to strengthen the Japan-U.S. Security Arrangements and to enhance the deterrence of the Japan-U.S. Alliance not only for the peace and security of Japan but also for the peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific region. Based on the robust bilateral relationship confirmed through such meetings as the Japan-U.S. Summit Meeting in February and November 2017, Japan and the U.S. are further enhancing their deterrence and response capabilities under the Guidelines and the Legislation for Peace and Security. Through such efforts, Japan and the U.S. have been expanding and strengthening cooperation in a wide range of areas, including ballistic missiles defense, cyberspace, outer space, and maritime security. Japan and the U.S. have been working closely on the realignment of U.S. Forces in Japan, including the relocation of Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Futenma and of approximately 9,000 U.S. Marine Corps in Okinawa to Guam and other locations in order to mitigate the impact on local communities, including Okinawa, while maintaining the deterrence of the U.S. Forces in Japan.

(2) Japan-U.S. Security and Defense Cooperation in Various Fields

A Efforts Under the Guidelines for Japan-U.S. Defense Cooperation (the “Guidelines”)

The Guidelines for Japan-U.S. Defense Cooperation announced at the April 2015 meeting of the Japan-U.S. Security Consultative Committee (“2+2”), reviewed and updated the general framework and policy direction of the Japan-U.S. defense cooperation. Through the Alliance Coordination Mechanism (ACM) established under these Guidelines, Japan and the U.S. have shared information closely, established a common understanding of the situation, and provided “seamless” responses from peacetime to contingencies. In the “2+2” meeting held in August 2017, Minister for Foreign Affairs Kono, Minister of Defense Onodera, U.S. Secretary of State Tillerson and Secretary of Defense Mattis concurred on moving forward on identifying measures to further strengthen the Alliance, including through reviewing roles, missions, and capabilities of each country. At the same time, they reaffirmed the Alliance's commitment to the security of Japan through the full range of capabilities, including U.S. nuclear forces. There have been active interpersonal exchange between high level-officials, with visits to Japan by Secretary of Defense Mattis in February, Commander of U.S. Pacific Command Admiral Harris in May and November, Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff, General Dunford, and Commander of U.S. Strategic Command, General Hyten, in August, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, General Milley in September, Commander of United Nations Command/Combined Forces Command/U.S. Forces Korea, General Brooks in November, and Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Richardson, in December. In addition, the Japan-U.S. Extended Deterrence Dialogue was held in June, in which Japan and the U.S. had candid discussions about ways to secure the deterrence of the Japan- U.S. Alliance. Through these multilayered efforts, Japan will continue to promote security and defense cooperation with the U.S., further enhancing the deterrence and response capabilities of the Alliance.

B Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD)

Japan has been making steady efforts to develop and engage in the production of the BMD system, such as the decision to introduce ground-deployed Aegis system (Aegis Ashore), while continuing cooperation with the U.S., which includes the steady implementation of joint development and joint production of the Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) Block IIA since 2006. Japan has been fully prepared to protect the lives and property of its citizens from the threat of ballistic missiles from North Korea under any circumstances.

C Cyberspace

The two countries held the fifth Japan-U.S. Cyber Dialogue in July in Tokyo. Based on the necessity for government-wide efforts by both Japan and the U.S., participants from both sides had a follow-up discussion on the outcome of the fourth dialogue held in July 2016. They also engaged in broad discussions on Japan-U.S. cooperation in cyberspace, including awareness about the situations, initiatives in both countries, cooperation in the international arena, and support for capacity building, and issued a joint press release after the dialogue.

D Outer Space

Japan and the U.S. have been discussing a wide range of cooperation on space at the Space Security Dialogue and the Japan-U.S.-Australia Space Security Dialogue. Japan and the U.S. will continue to cooperate on space security, including through mutual exchange of information in the field of Space Situational Awareness (SSA), and efforts to ensure the resiliency of space assets (i.e. the ability to maintain the function of facilities or systems required for the operation of the space system even during unforeseen circumstances).

E Trilateral Cooperation

Japan and the U.S. place importance on security and defense cooperation with allies and partners in the Asia-Pacific region. In particular, the two countries are steadily promoting trilateral cooperation with Australia, the ROK, and India. At the Japan-U.S. Summit Meeting held in July and November as well as other meetings, the leaders affirmed that such trilateral cooperation promotes the shared security interests of Japan and the U.S., and contributes to improving the security environment in the Asia-Pacific region. Also, following the nuclear test and repeated ballistic missile launches by North Korea in September, the importance of the respective trilateral cooperation was reaffirmed at the Japan-U.S.-ROK and Japan-U.S.-Australia Summit Meetings and other meetings.

F Information Security

Information security plays a crucial role in advancing cooperation within the context of the alliance. In addition to the implementation of the government-wide security clearance system, the two countries have been continuously discussing ways to further improve information security systems, including introducing and further enhancing counterintelligence measures (designed to prevent information leaks through espionage activities).

G Maritime Security

In fora such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), Japan and the U.S. stress the importance of solving maritime issues in accordance with international law. The Guidelines announced in April 2015 also provide that Japan and the U.S. will cooperate closely with each other on measures to maintain maritime order in accordance with international law, including the freedom of navigation. Japan and the U.S. affirm their shared view and their cooperation on maritime security through various occasions including the Japan-U.S. Summit Meeting held in February 2017.

(3) Realignment of U.S. Forces in Japan

In the joint statement issued by Japan and the United States in February 2017, the two Governments affirmed, for the first time in a document at the summit level, that constructing the Futenma Replacement Facility (FRF) at the Camp Schwab-Henokosaki area and adjacent waters is the only solution to avoid the continued use of MCAS Futenma. Furthermore, in the “2+2” joint statement in August, Japan and the U.S. reaffirmed their commitment to implement the existing arrangements, which aim to maintain operational and deterrent capability, while also mitigating the impact on local communities, and enhancing support from local communities for the presence and operations of U.S. forces in Japan. Japan and the U.S. will also continue to work closely on the steady implementation of the relocation of approximately 9,000 U.S. Marine Corps from Okinawa to outside the country such as Guam, which will begin in the first half of the 2020s, and on the return of land south of Kadena based on the April 2013 “Consolidation Plan for Facilities and Areas in Okinawa.”

Following the return of a major portion of the Northern Training Area (NTA, approximately 3,987 hectares) in December 2016, the return of land along the eastern side of MCAS Futenma (approximately 4 hectares) was achieved on July 31, 2017, based on the “Implementation of Bilateral Plans for Consolidating Facilities and Areas in Okinawa” announced in December 2015. If the opening of the entire route of Ginowan City Municipal Road No. 11 were to be also realized, along with the said return, it could contribute to the alleviation of traffic congestion in the surrounding area, and to the improvement of the living environment in the local community of Ginowan City.

Additionally, relocation of carrier air wing squadrons from Naval Air Facility Atsugi to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni has commenced in August of 2017, based on the U.S.-Japan Roadmap for Realignment Implementation of May 2006. This relocation is expected to contribute to mitigating the problem of noise and other issues that residents living near Naval Air Facility Atsugi, which is located in a densely populated area, have long tolerated. The Government of Japan will continue to make all efforts to mitigate impact on local communities, including Okinawa, so as to ensure stable stationing of U.S. forces in Japan, including the relocation of MCAS Futenma to Henoko at the earliest possible time.

(4) Host Nation Support (HNS)

Under the security environment surrounding Japan, which is becoming increasingly severe, from the standpoint that it is important to ensure smooth and effective operation of the U.S. Forces, Japan (USFJ) Japan bears the rent for USFJ facilities and areas and the Facility Improvement Program (FIP) funding stipulated within the scope of the Status of U.S. Forces Agreement. In addition to this, under the special measures agreements, Japan also bears labor costs, utility costs, and training relocation costs for USFJ.

Based on the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) and special measures agreement that came into force on 1 April 2016, the Government of Japan bears Host Nation Support (HNS) from FY2016 to FY2020.

(5) Various Issues Related to the Presence of U.S. Forces in Japan

To ensure the smooth and effective operation of the Japan-U.S. security arrangements and the stable presence of USFJ as the linchpin of these arrangements, it is important to mitigate the impact of U.S. Forces' activities on residents living in the vicinity and to gain their understanding and support regarding the presence of U.S. Forces. In particular, the importance of promoting mitigation of the impact on Okinawa, where U.S. Forces facilities and areas are concentrated, has been confirmed mutually between Japan and the U.S. on numerous occasions, including President Trump's visit to Japan in November 2017.

While continuing to work towards the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan, Japan has been making its utmost efforts to make improvements in specific issues in light of the requests of local communities such as preventing incidents and accidents involving U.S. forces, abating the noise by U.S. forces aircraft, and dealing with environmental issues within USFJ facilities and areas.

In response to the murder by a civilian component of the USFJ in Okinawa in April 2016, through the steady implementation of a supplementary agreement concerning the civilian component of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), which was signed and entered into force in January 2017, it is expected that Japan-U.S. cooperation is further promoted, and recurrence of incidents and accidents by civilian components is prevented through strengthening the management over the civilian components of USFJ. This supplementary agreement supplements and clarifies the scope of the civilian component set forth in SOFA through the form of an international agreement, and this was the second time that a supplementary agreement to the SOFA had been drawn up, following from the Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Environmental Stewardship concluded in 2015.

(6) United Nations Command (UNC) and U.S. Forces in Japan

As the Korean War broke out in June 1950, United Nations Command (UNC) was established in July of the same year based on UN Security Council Resolution 83 and Resolution 84. Following the ceasefire agreement concluded in July 1953, UNC Headquarters was relocated to Seoul in July 1957, and UNC (Rear) was established in Japan. UNC (Rear) placed in Yokota Air Base currently has a stationed commander and three other staff and military attaches from eight countries who are stationed at embassies in Tokyo as liaison officers for UNC.

Based on Article 5 of the Agreement Regarding the Status of the United Nations Forces in Japan, UNC may use the U.S. Forces' facilities and areas in Japan to the minimum extent required to provide support for military logistics for UNC. At present, UNC is authorized to use the following seven facilities: Camp Zama, U.S. Fleet Activities, Yokosuka, U.S. Fleet Activities, Sasebo, Yokota Air Base, Kadena Air Base, Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, and White Beach Area.