Meeting Between Minister for Foreign Affairs Katsuya Okada
and Secretary of Defense of the United States Robert Gates

October 20, 2009

Minister for Foreign Affairs Katsuya Okada met with U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates in Tokyo on Tuesday, October 20th. The summary of their meeting is as follows.

1. Japan-U.S. Alliance (including the realignment of U.S. Forces)

(1) Foreign Minister Okada stated that the Japan-U.S. alliance will continue to be important under the Hatoyama Administration, and expressed his aim to further deepen the alliance so that it will be sustainable for thirty to fifty years ahead. Minister Okada expressed his will to overcome the concrete issues at hand through close consultations with the U.S. Minister Okada mentioned that he would like to further deepen and develop the Japan-U.S. alliance towards the next year's 50th anniversary of the revision of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty.

Secretary Gates stated that Japan-U.S. alliance is the cornerstone of the U.S. security policy in Asia and that he would like to make next year not only a year for celebrating the past success but also for declaring cooperation towards the future. The Secretary also said that the U.S. would like to implement, in cooperation with the Hatoyama administration, the agreed realignment of U.S. Forces.

(2) On the issue of the realignment of the U.S. Forces in Japan, Secretary Gates stated that he is aware of the ongoing review regarding the relocation of the Futenma Airbase, and pointed out that the current plan has been reached after consideration of various options over a long period of time by both Japan and the United States. Referring to the current plan as the only viable option, Secretary Gates said that the realignment needs be implemented steadily in accordance with the Japan-U.S. agreement, and requested that the conclusion be reached as soon as possible.

In response, Minister Okada made the following points: (a) we are reviewing the past process of how the existing plan had been reached, (b) he well recognizes the existence of the Japan-U.S. agreement concerning the current plan, and (c) there has been a shift in the domestic political situation in Japan, including, for example, the last election for the House of Representatives in which candidates critical of the current plan had been elected in all four electoral districts of Okinawa. Minister Okada said that he would like to reach a conclusion as soon as possible, but requested U.S. understanding on the difficult political situation in Japan.

2. Afghanistan-Pakistan Assistance

(1) Secretary Gates expressed his high appreciation towards Japan's replenishment assistance activities. While acknowledging that it is up to Japan to decide, the Secretary expressed his expectation that Japan would implement strong assistance towards Afghanistan and Pakistan that match Japan's international status.

(2) Minister Okada responded that the current environment was not one in which the government would submit a bill concerning the replenishment to the Diet in the upcoming extraordinary session. At the same time, he also stated that Japan fully recognizes the importance of the assistance towards the two countries. Minister Okada explained that Japan is currently considering new assistance measures towards the two countries that utilize its fields of expertise, such as agricultural assistance and job training.

3. Nuclear Issues

(1) On nuclear-related issues, Minister Okada said that Japan would like to closely consult with the United States. He said that the ongoing review concerning the so-called "secret agreements" of the past Japan-U.S. governments would be handled basically as Japan's domestic issue. Regarding the "non-first use" issue, Minister Okada said that the government is examining the issue and expressed his desire to also closely discuss with the United States on the subject.

(2) Secretary Gates responded by stating that Japan and the U.S. share the goal of a world without nuclear weapons, while also mentioning that a flexibility of deterrence is a necessity. The Secretary said that the United States would also like to continue to hold close consultations with Japan on nuclear-related issues.