DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 05/02/06

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 11 TOKYO 002433 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR E, P, EB, EAP/J, EAP/P, EAP/PD, PA WHITE HOUSE/NSC/NEC; JUSTICE FOR STU CHEMTOB IN ANTI-TRUST DIVISION; TREASURY/OASIA/IMI/JAPAN; DEPT PASS USTR/PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE; SECDEF FOR JCS-J-5/JAPAN, DASD/ISA/EAPR/JAPAN; DEPT PASS ELECTRONICALLY TO USDA FAS/ITP FOR SCHROETER; PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR; CINCPAC FLT/PA/ COMNAVFORJAPAN/PA. E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA SUBJECT: DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 05/02/06 INDEX: (1) Final report on US force realignment; Government to review Okinawa development plans; Concerns voiced about financial burden (2) Agreement reached on USFJ realignment; Base towns split over whether to accept relocations, with some resenting agreement reached over their heads and others counting on favors in return (3) Summing up USFJ realignment: Final Japan-US agreement (Part 2) -- Remaining doubts, anxieties of local communities regarding US bases (4) Comments by experts on final report on USFJ realignment (5) Strategic roles still murky (6) Editorial - Japan-US security consultations: Prime Minister needs to explain what this new alliance will look like (7) USFJ-SDF fusion under way: Japan, US reach final accord on force realignment ARTICLES: (1) Final report on US force realignment; Government to review Okinawa development plans; Concerns voiced about financial burden YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) May 2, 2006 Following the completion of a final report on the realignment of US forces in Japan, the government and the ruling parties will soon start working out measures to spur the economic development of base-hosting local communities. They need to solicit the understanding of such communities in order to steadily implement the plans agreed on between Japan and the US. First of all, the government will review the development program (fiscal 2002 - fiscal 2011) for Okinawa, which houses many US military facilities. Officials are concerned, however, over the huge cost of relocating facilities that Japan is being asked to pay. Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe issued the following comment on the final report: "The agreement reached by Japan and United States through consultations premised on 'maintaining deterrence' and 'reducing local communities' burdens' has deep significance. The government will work in unity to swiftly implement the agreement through such efforts as sincerely explaining the contents of the pact to affected local communities." The government is looking into creating a system to provide subsidies to the local governments whose financial burden will increase under the accord. In reviewing the Okinawa promotion plan, the government will focus its attention on the Futenma relocation and other plans to be implemented in its remaining five years. One government source told reporters yesterday: "It is necessary to set up an arena to accurately absorb local views," indicating that the government would set up a new council involving persons concerned from the central and local governments. The panel will discuss how to use TOKYO 00002433 002 OF 011 the land vacated by the US military in Okinawa Prefecture, as well as what measures should be taken to promote local industries. There are also such tasks as how to squeeze out fiscal resources to finance realignment plans and how to elicit public understanding. US Deputy Under Secretary of Defense Lawless estimated Japan's share of the overall relocation cost at nearly 3 trillion yen. Some Japanese government officials suggested that Japan's share would be more like 2 trillion yen. Some ruling party members are perplexed at the estimated 6.09 billion dollars (676 billion yen) as Japan's share of the total cost for relocating Okinawa-based Marines to Guam, one official remarking: "It is not easy to obtain public understanding." Liberal Democratic Party Upper House Secretary General Katayama stated: "Some say Japan should pay 2 trillion yen, and others suggest 3 trillion. But it will take about 10 years to implement the planned US force realignment. So it is imperative for the government to give satisfactory explanations to the public and convince them of the agreed realignment plans." The opposition camp is raising its voice in criticism against Japan's huge share of the overall realignment cost. Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) member Keiichiro Asao, the foreign minister in the Next Cabinet (shadow cabinet),said yesterday: "The planned realignment of US forces in Japan is a part of the global US force transformation strategy. Given this, Japan's burden is too heavy. We will ask the government at the Diet about how this estimate was worked out." Japanese Communist Party Chairman Shii also criticized the contents of the pact, saying: "The government is preparing to use a large amount of taxpayers' money to fund realignment plans, including measures to strengthen the US military base in Guam. We must stop such a reckless act." (2) Agreement reached on USFJ realignment; Base towns split over whether to accept relocations, with some resenting agreement reached over their heads and others counting on favors in return ASAHI (Page 31) (Full) May 2, 2006 Tokyo and Washington yesterday reached agreement on a final report on USFJ realignment, causing concern to affected local communities about a possible perpetuation of the existence of US military bases and further damage to municipalities that accommodate US military bases throughout the country. Some local governments resent that the agreement was reached over their heads. Others are warming to the agreement and accepting bases, counting on favors in return, including return of portions of base sites or economic assistance. Camp Zama A joint operations command to be transformed into the US Army TOKYO 00002433 003 OF 011 First Corps Command, as well as the Ground Self-Defense Force's central readiness command, will be assigned to Camp Zama. Mayor Katsuji Hoshino opposed the plan: "The presence of the US military base will be perpetuated. There is also deep-seated concern about the base coming under terrorist attack. We cannot possibly agree to have such facilities at Camp Zama." There are also Atsugi Naval Air Station and the Sagami Depot nearby. Four affected local communities, which all had sought the return of the base facilities, now have different views on the issue. There is a possibility of noise pollution from Atsugi Naval Air Station being reduced, following the relocation of US carrier- borne aircraft to a US military base in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture. Yamato City and Ayase City have supported the realignment plan. Sagamihara City, which also hosts Camp Zama along with Zama City, has switched its stance. Hearing explanations from the Defense Agency in April that portions of the depot will be returned to the city, the city now favors accommodating those facilities. Mayor Hoshino, who stands firm against the proposed transfer of those facilities to Camp Zama, stressed, "Our city will end its friendly relationship with the US military base unless the government shows specific plans to streamline and downsize base facilities and prevent them from becoming permanent." Chitose Base F-15 training at US forces' Kadena Air Base will be transferred to Self-Defense Forces (SDF) bases throughout the nation. One candidate is Chitose Base. The Defense Facilities Administration Agency (DFAA) showed to Mayor Kotaro Yamaguchi of Chitose City, Hokkaido, an estimate that the annual number of flights would be up to approximately 1,900. There has been an arrangement between the government and Chitose City that the number of days when US military aircraft land and take off should be up to 60 per year. The JDA said that that limit would be maintained. Yamaguchi, who had been opposed to accepting base facilities, noted, "The government has now made proposals worth considering." Another relocation site is Nyutabaru Base. Senior DFAA officials yesterday visited Miyazaki Prefecture and Shintomi Town, which host the base, to explain the plan. Governor Tadahiro Ando said, "I cannot agree, because there is concern about noise and accidents." Shintomi Town Mayor Yoshifumi Tsuchiya said: "I cannot understand. Does the government really think of the people?" Shariki Detachment Base The early warning X-band radar system will be deployed at Shariki Detachment Base in Tsugaru City, Aomori Prefecture. Both Aomori Governor Shingo Mimura and Tsugaru City Mayor Hiroyoshi Fukushima on March 30 expressed their intention to accept the plan, after calling for safety assurances and local promotion measures. However, some local residents are still concerned about a possible deterioration in security. Yokota Air Base TOKYO 00002433 004 OF 011 The Air Defense Command will be transferred from Fuchu, Tokyo, to Yokota Air Base. Among six neighboring cities, no local governments clearly oppose the relocation plan. The DFAA has explained that there would be little increase in noise. The affected local governments are pinning their hopes on receiving subsidies. Working-level panel to discuss return of airspace above Yokota to be set up An agreement has been reached with the US on the return of portions of Yokota airspace by September 2008. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport (MLIT) and various air carriers are welcoming the agreement, saying, "Yokota airspace will be returned in time for the opening of the fourth runway at Haneda Airport." Yokota airspace stretches from the Izu Peninsula to Niigata Prefecture, covering Tokyo and eight other prefectures. Almost all westbound aircraft have to climb above this airspace by flying out over the Pacific or circling over after flying toward Chiba. This is a cause of near-miss accidents between civilian aircraft, which have to avoid that airspace. The fourth runway will be completed at Haneda Airport in 2009, and the second runway at Narita Airport will be extended. The MLIT intends to discuss the return of Yokota airspace by setting up a working-level panel involving officials of the US military and the SDF. (3) Summing up USFJ realignment: Final Japan-US agreement (Part 2) -- Remaining doubts, anxieties of local communities regarding US bases ASAHI (Page 1) (Abridged) May 2, 2006 In his press conference three days before the final agreement on US force realignment in Japan, Defense Agency (JDA) Director General Fukushiro Nukaga stressed its significance: "Once we finalize the agreement, we will be able to bring about the full reversion of Futenma Air Station." But can the reversion really be carried out? There are strong doubts about it in Okinawa. One local head said: "We may not be able to do it this time, as well. Ten years have already passed." He was afraid that the 10 years of confusion that followed the agreement between the Japanese and US governments in which reversion could not be carried out would again repeat itself. Resistance to the construction of a new base to relocate Futenma is as deep as ever. Although the mayor of Nago City, the local community affected, and the mayor neighboring Ginoza City have agreed to the proposal to relocate to Henoko Point in Nago City, the Ginoza City Assembly on April 28 passed a unanimous resolution opposing it. The prefectural government also is not on board. Even Yukio Okamoto, who tackled the Futenma issue for the year and a half that he served the Hashimoto administration as prime ministerial assistant, does not have a firm outlook. "Okinawa is TOKYO 00002433 005 OF 011 difficult because there is much pathos involved," he said. Okamoto points out that mainland Japan has long regarded Okinawa with dread. During the war, Okinawa was a sacrificial stone. After the war, it fell under US military control, and only the mainland experienced prosperity. Although the number of bases on mainland Japan dropped greatly, Okinawa was hardly affected by the cuts. The burden was even increased. Okamoto said that as a result a feeling of pathos grew among Okinawa residents. Their blockage of the relocation is no more than the view, "Why do we have to accept another base forced on us?" The final realignment report contains a decision to relocate 8,000 Marines on Okinawa to Guam and to revert US facilities south of Kadena Air Base. Okinawa now hosts 75% of all US military facilities in Japan. This time, although the 1500 hectares to be reverted is no more than 10% of that, the prefecture has evaluated it as significant since bases in highly populated areas will be removed. However, there is fear that this could give rise to more anxieties. Even though Okinawa has suffered from the bases, its economy also relies on the bases. If the bases are returned and central government assistance wanes, the base employees and owners of land used by the US military could lose their livelihoods, and Okinawa's economy could suffer a major blow. The next gubernatorial election in Okinawa is this fall. "In order to uphold the Japan-US security arrangements, Okinawa must be socially and politically stable," repeatedly says Governor Keiichi Inamine. The message included in this is: "If consideration by the central government is insufficient, the prefecture's politics could be assaulted by reformist forces." (4) Comments by experts on final report on USFJ realignment YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) May 2, 2006 Toshiyuki Shikata, Teikyo University professor (security issues): Final report seems to change the nature of Japan-US alliance The final report produced by Japan and the US apparently will change the nature of the Japan-US alliance. The alliance was initially intended to defend Japan's territory, but later, the category of "contingencies in areas surrounding Japan" was added. In the future, Japan and the US, in accordance with the final report, will cooperate to deal with common issues affecting all humanity, such as fighting terrorism and stopping the proliferation of nuclear weapons, even in areas far from Japan, as part of efforts to protect national interests. The planned deployment of missile defense (MD) radar in Japan will deepen Japan-US cooperation in terms of nuclear deterrence. Japan has been protected under the nuclear umbrella of the US, but now, it will shoulder its due burden. The final report also notes that the Ground Self Defense Force and the Air Self-Defense Force will set up their headquarters in Camp Zama and Yokota Air Base, respectively. This will be a significant measure for both sides' forces. In order to have the mechanisms of cooperation and coordination between Japanese and American troops operate effectively, their headquarters should be TOKYO 00002433 006 OF 011 located at a short distance in order to make close cooperation routine. Although the final report specifies the need for both sides to share "a set of values" and "burden," it does not refer to the risks. It is unacceptable to say that Japan will be at the rear in times of emergency due to the unresolved problem of the use of the right to collective self-defense. Probably because of this, Japan will have to pay a huge amount of money for relocating Marines to Guam. Japan should immediately alter its interpretation of the Constitution, which prohibits the use of the right to collective self-defense. Koji Murata, Doshisha University professor (American diplomacy): Attention focused on China's arms buildup It will be meaningless if Japan and the US agree on the final report, dubbed as a roadmap (timetable),but remain unable to implement the realignment plans in the report, similar to the Middle-East peace process case. In order to implement the agreed plans, it is important for the government to obtain understanding from base-hosting local communities. Local residents near the US Marine Corps' Iwakuni Air Base in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture, have strongly opposed the planned relocation of carrier-based aircraft, but if the final report is translated into action, the noise factor there should be eased. It is necessary for Prime Minister Koizumi and a likely successor to Koizumi to underscore advantages for Japan in the entire US force realignment scheme, without leaving the issue entirely in the hands of lawmakers from Iwakuni and the mayor. On that occasion, they must explain in detail how the planned US force realignment will serve to strengthening the Japan-US alliance, focusing not only on costs and the number of troops but on the current situations in China and North Korea. The joint statement issued by the four cabinet ministers from the US and Japan made no reference to China. The statement, though, stressed: "The Japan-US alliance is vital for promoting such values as basic human rights, freedom, and democracy," implying that the US sees Japan's importance as different from China. The main feature of the USFJ realignment is aimed to strengthen the functions of the base in Guam, keeping in mind China's military buildup. The final report did not refer to China but showed Washington's intention clearly. (5) Strategic roles still murky ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) May 2, 2006 Yoichi Kato, America Bureau chief, Asahi Shimbun Japan and the United States have now wrapped up their intergovernmental talks that had continued for three and a half years over the realignment of US forces in Japan -- an important part of the US military's global transformation currently under way so that the United States can meet the security environment that has undergone a sea change since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The realignment of US forces in Japan was intended to fundamentally reform the Japan-US alliance with the TOKYO 00002433 007 OF 011 aim of dealing even more effectively with the war on terror and the rise of China. On May 1, Japan and the United States held a 'two-plus-two' meeting of their intergovernmental security consultative committee in Washington. The Japanese and US governments there released joint press remarks, noting that the alliance will enter a new phase. Japan and the United States, through the series of realignment talks, decided to adopt common strategic objectives, ready their respective forces to carry them out, and pave the way to alleviating Okinawa's base-hosting burden. The two countries are expected to face some difficulties before translating all of these goals into action. In point of fact, the US Marine Corps reportedly wonders if it is really possible to build facilities on the island of Guam for their troops to be moved from Okinawa. However, Japan and the United States are now expected to improve their alliance in the area of capability and sustainability. The alliance has now attained the objective of its reform. At the same time, however, the realignment talks have also unveiled a number of problems about the alliance. The first problem is that Japan's role remains unclear within the new framework. In terms of defense cooperation, the Japanese and US governments specified 15 points-including ballistic missile defense and counterterrorism-in an interim report released in October last year. In a broader sense, however, their final report released this time failed to show specific roles for Japan and the United States to play in the process of pushing ahead with security strategies in the Asia-Pacific region. One US government official likened the series of realignment talks to "real-estate bargaining" over where to locate US military facilities or "trade negotiations" over how much money to pay. "The talks failed to focus on Japan's responsibility," the official said. Another US official, however, sees the realignment of US forces in Japan as having attained its objective in its own way. This official said, "This transformation is in itself a deterrent for China." In fact, China is becoming increasingly alarmed. A group of US congressional staff members recently visited China, where they were showered with a number of questions about the US military's realignment in Japan. One was quoted as asking, "What kind of role will the United States have Japan undertake?" Another problem is that there is a perception gap between the Japanese and US governments over the significance of the US military's role for the defense of Japan. This problem existed all the time behind the difficulties of their talks over the relocation of Futenma airfield and the redeployment of Marines to Guam. Time and again, the US government maintained one point. According to US Deputy Under Secretary of Defense Lawless, the United States "risks exposing" the lives of its troops and carrier strike group as a rare "defense resource" for the defense of Japan. In addition, the US government often noted that Japan's defense spending accounts for only about 1% of gross domestic TOKYO 00002433 008 OF 011 product while the United States' defense spending is at 4%. For the Japanese government, however, the centerpiece of issues discussed in the force realignment talks this time was to alleviate Japan's base-hosting burden rather than to maintain and strengthen deterrent capabilities. As seen from this awareness on the Japanese side, the Japanese government's immediate challenge was not to expand the scope of US military contributions to the defense of Japan but to heighten the alliance's sustainability. Moreover, Tokyo, unlike the past, did not want Japan to be at Washington's beck and call in the realignment talks this time. The series of realignment talks therefore heated up to the flash point over Futenma relocation and Marine transferal to Guam, with both sides going so far as to hint even at the possibility of their breaking down. In the end, Tokyo and Washington wound up the talks after obtaining achievements in their own ways. However, the talks resulted in implying how difficult it will be to continue to transform and manage the alliance. (6) Editorial - Japan-US security consultations: Prime Minister needs to explain what this new alliance will look like MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) May 2, 2006 The Japan-US alliance now moves on to a new stage with the finalization of the report on the realignment of US forces in Japan by the Japan-US Security Consultative Committee (2+2). From the perspective of the United States, which has been moving forward with a global force transformation, the realignment of its military forces in Japan represents the final phase of the reforms. For Japan, realignment will lead to bolstering and promoting cooperation between the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) and the US Forces Japan (USFJ). Over the past five years, Japan under the Koizumi administration has addressed security challenges that would have surely been left untouched under previous governments, such as the enacting of legislation dealing with defense emergencies and dispatching SDF troops to the Indian Ocean and Iraq. Realignment, needless to say, is an important task because it will determine Japan's future security policy. The basic direction of the realignment was shown in the set of common strategic goals Japan and the US adopted at the 2+2 meeting in February 2005. The goals included both the North Korea and China problems. They also focused on global-scale international cooperation and disaster rescue and relief efforts as goals for the Japan-US alliance to achieve. Realignment falls In line with these strategic goals. The planned transfer of the 1st Army Command in Washington State to Camp Zama in Kanagawa Prefecture will link its functions to the SDF. Since the area of cooperation between the SDF and the US forces will expand, concerns are likely to arise among the Japanese public that the SDF may become involved in America's wars. In order to dispel any doubts, the government has the responsibility to give a proper account to the nation. Tokyo and Washington have agreed that Japan will pay 60% or TOKYO 00002433 009 OF 011 approximately 700 billion yen (including loans) of the total cost to transfer US Marines stationed in Okinawa to Guam in tandem with the relocation of MCAS Futenma (inside Okinawa). This will be the first time for Japan to bear the cost for a US military facility outside the country. How much of burden should Japan bear for the cost of stationing US troops? We want to see a detailed account of this issue, as well. Some US officials have estimated the total cost to Japan of USFJ realignment at 3 trillion yen. We would like the Japanese government to make its own estimate based on proper data and announce it to the nation. Japan's aim in the realignment talks has been to reduce the burden on base-hosting communities. In particular, realignment has been premised on alleviating the burden on Okinawa, where 75% of US military facilities in Japan are concentrated. The outstanding issue of relocating Futenma Air Station in Ginowan City to the coastal portion of Camp Schwab in Nago City was recently settled with agreement reached between Nago City and the central government. But discontent in Okinawa continues to smolder. The planned transfer of a carrier-based wing from Naval Air Facility Atsugi in Kanagawa Prefecture to MCAS Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture has encountered strong local objections. Obtaining local acceptance will be a major challenge for the central government in the coming weeks. Many issues remain to be addressed, even though the realignment report has been finalized. If the central government fails to address the challenges by sincerely lending its ears to the concerns of local communities, progress on realignment cannot be expected. Although Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi was passionate about postal reform, there seems to have been few opportunities for him to exercise his leadership capability in the issues associated with USFJ realignment. He has the political responsibility to provide a clear account to domestic and foreign audiences of how the new alliance will work, and to make efforts to eliminate the concerns of neighboring countries. Once realignment is complete, how will Japan promote its security policy? The prime minister has the responsibility of making a clear explanation to the nation about what the new Japan-US alliance will look like. (7) USFJ-SDF fusion under way: Japan, US reach final accord on force realignment ASAHI (Page 3) (Full) May 1, 2006 Japan and the United States will finalize a report today on their intergovernmental talks over the realignment of US forces in Japan. In response, US Forces Japan (USFJ) and Japan's Self- Defense Forces (SDF) will move ahead with their fusion through such steps as consolidating their inter-command cooperation. However, fusion will create problems related to its consistency with the US-Japan Security Treaty. How will the US military presence in Japan and the SDF change under force realignment? Inter-command cooperation: Camp Zama to command operations during emergencies In the process of realigning the US military's footprints in TOKYO 00002433 010 OF 011 Japan, the US Army's 1st Corps, which is currently headquartered in the Washington State, will be revamped into a joint operations command and relocated to Camp Zama, a rear-echelon logistics base of US Army Japan (USARJ) in Kanagawa Prefecture. The 1st Corps' new command, after its relocation to Camp Zama, will function as a center to command operations in the event of contingencies on the periphery of Japan, giving heed to a potential crisis on the Korean Peninsula or in the Taiwan Strait. Meanwhile, the Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) will launch a new unit for counterterrorism and international peace cooperation. The new GSDF unit, called the Central Readiness Command or CRC for short, will also set up headquarters at Camp Zama. "It will be easier for Japan and the United States to communicate with each other," a senior official of the Defense Agency said. "US forces will have no time difference if they can locate a command near the presence of uncertainties," the official added, "and they can dissolve the geographic gap." The official noted that it would be "extremely advantageous" to USFJ. In the meantime, USFJ and US Air Force Japan (USAFJ) locate their respective headquarters at the US Air Force's Yokota base in Tokyo, where the Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF) will relocate its Air Defense Command (ADC) headquarters and where the ASDF and USAFJ will set up a joint operations coordination center for missile defense (MD). "Japan is going to share the United States' overwhelming satellite and radar intelligence," one SDF staff officer said. This SDF officer also noted the necessity of responding to a ballistic missile in a short time once launched. "It will be possible for us to be readied for such a ballistic missile attack," the officer stressed, bearing the significance of USFJ realignment in mind. Kensuke Ebata, a guest professor at Takushoku University, analyzes the meaning of USFJ realignment: "Japan will be positioned as a strategic base on the front to back up the US military in its global deployment of troops, and it will be also possible for USFJ and the SDF to team up with each other even more closely in their operations." Base combining: Consistency with security pact to be called into question US military aircraft currently conduct training at three bases, including the US Air Force's Kadena base in Okinawa Prefecture. Starting this fall, their training will be dispersed to five ASDF bases in Japan's mainland prefectures and to Misawa base in Aomori Prefecture as a combined base. Conducting US fighter jet training at other bases will not only alleviate Okinawa's base-hosting burden. One ASDF staff officer noted that US military aircraft's repeated training at ASDF bases in Japan would help their pilots know well the runways of these ASDF bases, including their features. "They can be readied for emergencies," the ASDF officer said. Japan plans to offer two ASDF facilities, Tsuiki base in Fukuoka Prefecture and Nyutabaru base in Miyazaki Prefecture, for US fighter jets' training flight missions. The two ASDF bases will take over the role of Futenma airfield in Okinawa as a runway for emergency use. Both Tsuiki base and Nyutabaru base are located in Kyushu. "The two bases are close to the Korean Peninsula and the Taiwan Strait, so they're probably thinking of using the two TOKYO 00002433 011 OF 011 bases in the event of neighboring emergencies," an ASDF staff officer said. Japan is mulling several dozen billion yen in outlays to build aprons, hangars, and billets for US forces at these ASDF bases. The United States will install a mobile early warning radar system, called "X-band radar," at the ASDF's Shariki Detachment base in Aomori Prefecture. The X-band radar is originally designed to intercept intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) targeted at the US mainland. Its consistency with the Japan-US Security Treaty will likely be called into question since the US military is allowed under the security pact to use bases in Japan for the purpose of contributing to the defense of Japan and the maintenance of international peace in the Far East. Role sharing: US asks for backup, SDF fears heavier burden The realignment talks have redefined USFJ and SDF roles. The SDF, which is not allowed to take part in combat operations due to constitutional constraints, is expected to back up US forces in rear-echelon logistics areas, such as supply, maintenance, and transport services. In an interim report already released by the Japanese and US governments on USFJ realignment, Japan incorporated a plan to introduce a high-speed amphibious transport for the purpose of sealifting US troops for their rapid deployment in response to threats. The Defense Agency initially had no plans to procure that vessel-it was not incorporated in the agency's midterm defense buildup program worked out in 2004. However, the United States asked Japan to provide sealift assistance, not only under normal circumstances and but also during emergencies, for US Marines to be moved to Guam. Japan therefore decided to introduce the craft for the SDF. "In the process of specifying our respective roles," one SDF staff officer said, "the United States may ask Japan to introduce more hardware." This officer voiced his concern: "We have our own plans we need in order to reorganize the SDF and introduce equipment. But our plans may be affected in that process." DONOVAN