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Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

End 'sympathy' budget for U.S. forces in Japan
Akahata editorial (gist)

The Japanese government plans to submit to the next ordinary Diet session a bill to revise the special agreement on Japan's funding for the stationing of U.S. forces in Japan under Article 24 of the Status of U.S. Forces in Japan Agreement (SOFA) so that it can be extended two more years. The current special agreement will expire at the end of March.

The government introduced the so-called "sympathy" budget system in 1978 when Kanemaru Shin was the Defense Agency director general. The measure was taken on the pretext of helping the U.S. deal with financial difficulties arising at the time from the strong yen.

Although such payments are not a treaty obligation under the SOFA, Japan, in the guise of a "sympathy" budget, has paid the costs for constructing shelters for fighters, housing for U.S. military personnel and their families, schools, churches, and all other U.S. facilities, as well as the costs for Japanese base workers.

In 1987, the Japanese government concluded a five-year special measures agreement with the U.S. and promised to pay part of labor costs, utility bills of U.S. bases, all but the salaries for U.S. personnel.

In the FY 2006 draft government budget, 139.1 billion yen (1.26 billion dollars) is earmarked for expenditure under the special agreement, bringing the total amount of the 'sympathy' budget to 232.6 billion yen (2.11 billion dollars).

Adding the amount of 'sympathy' budget payments to Japan's obligatory payments under the SOFA, such as land rent, Japan stands out among U.S. allies in terms at its payments as host nation in support of U.S. forces.

According to the 2004 annual U.S. Department of Defense report on contributions by 27 allies to the common defense, in 2002 in Japan, where 42,000 U.S. personnel are stationed, the government paid 4.4 billion dollars, or 52% of all contributions by all U.S. allies. Germany where 72,000 U.S. soldiers are stationed, paid 18 percent of the total.

The U.S. government has said that deploying troops in Japan is more economical than deploying them in the U.S. U.S. President Bush on August 16, 2004 stated that U.S. taxpayers will pay less to this regard as the U.S. military transformation proceeds.

The Koizumi government accepted paying for the costs of redeploying some Okinawa-based U.S. Marines to Guam and constructing a new U.S. Marine air base in Okinawa, and promised to continue to provide host nation support for U.S. forces in Japan that includes the 'sympathy' budget.

If Japan continues to pay for the U.S. forces, they will stay longer in Japan and the public will face greater dangers of aircraft accidents and crimes due to the presence of U.S. bases.

Keeping the basis in Japan will only undermine Japan's peace and safety and turn Japan into a threat to the peace of Asia and the world.

The "Sympathy" budget contradicts the public demand for "no more U.S. bases." It must be discontinued.
- Akahata, January 17, 2006