U.S. Forces Japan Expenses in Japan [ Compassionate Budget ] The word that comes up every time the topic goes up, the US-Japan Status of Forces Agreement. Haven't you heard of it? ??
As I mentioned earlier when I wrote about the base issue in Okinawa, the US-Japan Status of Forces Agreement is a very important agreement for explaining the US-Japan relationship that has continued from the postwar period to the present day.
In learning about Japan's postwar security system, it is important to understand its contents.
So this time, [ US-Japan Status of Forces Agreement ] I would like to explain the background and contents in an easy-to-understand manner.
What is the US-Japan Status of Forces Agreement? ??
The official name is [ Agreement on Mutual Cooperation and Facilities and Areas Under Article 6 of the Security Treaty between Japan and the United States and the Status of the United States Armed Forces in Japan 】Is called.
It's very long ... Hereafter, I will write it as the Japan-US Status of Forces Agreement.
The US-Japan Status of Forces Agreement is 1960 (Showa 35) Japan-US Security Treaty * So, the US military was allowed to be stationed in Japan and agreed on the details. * Hereafter referred to as the New Security Treaty.
The contents stipulate the arrangements for the use of facilities and areas in Japan and the status of the US military in Japan so that the US military stationed in Japan can act smoothly in order to achieve the purpose of the New Security Treaty.
Japan-US Security Treaty Together with US-Japan Security System It is an important arrangement for.
Background of the conclusion of the US-Japan Status of Forces Agreement
Japan, which was defeated in World War II, was occupied and ruled by GHQ for about seven years after the war. At that time, Japan was positioned as an important base in East Asia for the United States.
Conflict between the Western camp led by the United States and the Eastern camp led by the Soviet Union [ Cold War ] Then, Japan is an important base for the Western camp [ Breakwater in the Far East ] Was called.
When the United States occupied Japan, it established US military bases in various places in the name of protecting Japan, and opposed Asian countries such as North Korea and China, which are under the influence of the eastern camp such as the Soviet Union.
1951 San Francisco Peace Treaty Japan's sovereignty will be restored by the conclusion of the agreement, but 1950 Due to the intensified conflict caused by the outbreak of the Korean War, only the US military will continue to be stationed in Japan. ] Has been concluded.
1952 As a concrete regular agreement based on the former Security Treaty, Japan-US Administrative Agreement Is tied.
It was 1960 that developed the former Security Treaty and the Japan-US Administrative Agreement. [ Mutual Cooperation and Security Treaty (New Security Treaty) between Japan and the United States ] And the Japan-US Status of Forces Agreement stipulates detailed arrangements accompanying the conclusion of the New Security Treaty.
Contents of the US-Japan Status of Forces Agreement
The US-Japan Status of Forces Agreement consists of 28 articles.
Here, I will explain the contents of typical articles.
Article 3 of the Agreement stipulates that necessary measures can be taken to set up, operate and manage US military bases.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the above does not mean that the United States freely uses the base like extraterritoriality and the sovereignty does not extend to Japan, but that Japanese laws and regulations apply even within the base.
Article 5 stipulates free use of airports and roads and tax exemption measures.
Article 12 of the agreement also provides for many tax exemptions such as excise tax and gasoline tax.
Article 17 describes the jurisdiction for cases and accidents that occur during public affairs.
Both Japan and the United States have jurisdiction over the U.S. military, but if both sides compete, incidents and accidents caused by U.S. military personnel during public affairs will be the first to the U.S. military even if the Japanese people are victims. It was said that he had jurisdiction.
Here, it is written that Japan will bear the cost of land rents such as US military bases. It is written that the maintenance of the base will be borne by the United States, etc., but in reality Japan bears a lot, and this is [ compassionate budget ] It seems that it is called.
Problems of the US-Japan Status of Forces Agreement and its subsequent impact
Various problems have been pointed out in the Japan-US Status of Forces Agreement.
This agreement is in favor of the United States and is unequal in many ways. In response to this, many people in Japan are demanding revisions to the US-Japan Status of Forces Agreement.
In particular, the following two are often talked about in Japan.
- Japan bears base-related costs
- The United States has primary jurisdiction over cases caused by U.S. military personnel during public affairs
Regarding jurisdiction, even if a U.S. military person commits a crime outside of public affairs, if the suspect is on the base, he or she will remain in the same position until Japan is prosecuted, and the Japanese side will not be able to arrest him.
1995 Okinawa U.S. Army Soldier Girl Assault Case It became a big problem that the criminal was not handed over to the Japanese side.
In Okinawa Prefecture, where US military bases are concentrated, there were 575 violent crimes such as murder and rape that occurred between 1972 and 2016, with an average monthly rate of one.
Article 17 of the US-Japan Status of Forces Agreement becomes a problem every time a crime committed by a U.S. military official occurs, but even if such inequality and absurdity are revealed, the US-Japan Status of Forces Agreement remains unrevised. ..
Status of Forces Agreement with other countries
The US military has status of forces agreements with more than 40 countries, including Germany, Italy, South Korea, Iraq and Afghanistan. Among them, Germany is the only country that has an equal agreement with the United States over the treatment of suspects who have committed violent crimes and fled to the base.
According to the German Bonn Supplementary Agreement, [ if there is an urgent need to arrest or investigate the criminal, you can enter the U.S. military base without prior notice . However, according to Article 17 (5) C of the Japan-US Status of Forces Agreement, [ Japanese police cannot enter the base and arrest or interrogate as long as the suspect escapes to the U.S. military base. ] It is supposed to be.
Why is the US-Japan Status of Forces Agreement not revised? ??
Why isn't the story going on when I am appealing for the revision of the Japan-US Status of Forces Agreement every time an incident or accident occurs by a U.S. military official? ??
It seems that the story of the revision has never been on the desk of the Japan-US negotiations. Even if the revision is pursued every time an incident occurs, the Japanese government [ will not revise ] It is even stated clearly.
I think the number one issue is the degree of public interest.
Both Japanese and US governments [strong> Okinawa is the only one enthusiastic about the revision of the US-Japan Status of Forces Agreement ], The degree of interest of the Japanese people north of Okinawa is almost zero.
Even I, who actually lives in the north, had forgotten about the base problem until I went on a trip to Okinawa ... At this point, it was very difficult to think about myself because I am not involved in the U.S. military base in my daily life. I think.
Instead, the Northern Territories issue can sometimes be discussed at home, but ...
How do you feel about the Northern Territories issue in your area? ??
In this way, the US-Japan Status of Forces Agreement and the US military issues are strongly felt to be Okinawan issues, and Okinawans speak out every time an incident occurs, but they do not become a national movement.
The place where US military affairs occur in other countries is the mainland that everyone can see. If it happens on the mainland, it will be a problem for the people. It is said that the speculations of successive Japan and the United States that have concentrated their bases in Okinawa are hidden here.
The fact is that 1952 When Japan regained sovereignty, 90% of the area of the US military base was on the mainland. However, the anti-war movement and the opposition to US military exercises that have risen to the mainland after the Korean War 1956 to calm down The bases of the Marine Corps in Gifu and Yamanashi were moved to Okinawa.
Furthermore, from the 1960s to the 1970s, the number of US military bases in the Tokyo metropolitan area was significantly reduced, and as a result, the area of US military bases in Japan exceeded that of the mainland in the 1970s.
By keeping the U.S. military base away from the eyes of many people and making it invisible, incidents and accidents that occurred in Okinawa can be described as [ Okinawa-only problems . ] I feel that it has come to be done.
However, the Japanese government cannot do anything, so [ operational improvement ], But we have not taken steps to revise the Japan-US Status of Forces Agreement.
For the time being, [ Aiming to create legally binding intergovernmental texts that go one step further from conventional operational improvements ], But he is only saying [I'm aiming, but I'm not saying I'll do it ...] at the level of good deeds.