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Asahi Shimbun
a day ago
- Politics
- Asahi Shimbun
U.S. Forces Japan chief calls new command ‘historic' shift
The commander of U.S. Forces Japan said the recent decision by the Self-Defense Forces to establish a joint operations command was a 'historic development' that would be matched by greater coordination on the part of the U.S. military. Lt. Gen. Stephen Jost submitted an opinion piece to The Asahi Shimbun in which he explained the aim of the recently initiated Japan Self-Defense Force Joint Operations Command Cooperation Team, or JCT. During his late March visit to Japan, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the first steps had been taken to give U.S. Forces Japan operational command authority to eventually better coordinate with the SDF Joint Operations Command. Jost explained that the role of the JCT would be 'to further strengthen our bilateral ability to respond to crises or contingencies.' The team would serve as the 'primary interlocutor and liaison' between the SDF and U.S. Forces Japan, he said. He added that the team, 'marks the first tangible step we're taking to enhance our operational synergy with Japan.' Based in Tokyo, the JCT is 'a small team today, but it will continue to grow as USFJ expands its capabilities and authorities,' Jost said. He added that the primary mission of U.S. Forces Japan would result in a switch from 'alliance management' to integrating and synchronizing 'operations that span the spectrum ... from humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and armed conflict.' U.S. Forces Japan currently comes under the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, based in Hawaii, but will gradually increase its command authority over the next few years, Jost said. Touching on recent moves by Tokyo to possess the capability to strike at enemy bases preparing to launch missiles against Japan as well as sharply increase defense spending, Jost said they illustrate 'Japan's determination to serve in a leading role' in regional security. In the context of China's continuing military buildup, Jost said the decision to integrate the command-and-control structures would lead to 'deeper security cooperation while signaling a clear-eyed resolve to uphold stability, deter aggression and ensure a prosperous future' in the region. *** The following op-ed piece by Lt. Gen. Stephen Jost appeared in The Asahi Shimbun on June 28 under the headline, Advancing the Alliance: USFJ, JSDF transform future of Indo-Pacific Security The U.S.-Japan security alliance has entered a transformative era, most recently marked by Japan's establishment of the Japan Self-Defense Forces Joint Operations Command and the ongoing evolution of our U.S. Forces, Japan headquarters. The security, freedom and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific face increasing challenges from adversarial nations, primarily the People's Republic of China, and I can tell you firsthand that these threats are only intensifying. The security developments now in motion underscore a growing urgency to prioritize combat credible forces and reinforce our readiness to protect peace in the Indo-Pacific, and I welcome this new phase of our enduring alliance. During the recent Defense Ministerial meeting in Tokyo, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Defense Minister Gen Nakatani reaffirmed the necessity of our collective transformation efforts, highlighting the increasingly severe security environment. 'We have a robust alliance agenda that will strengthen our deterrence posture, keep the enemy guessing, creating dilemmas for them, and ensure that we achieve peace through strength,' said Hegseth. I join both defense officials in celebrating the establishment of the Japan Self-Defense Force Joint Operations Command; a historic development reflecting Japan's commitment to a more integrated and agile security posture. But what is the Japan Self-Defense Force Joint Operations Command and why does it matter to USFJ and the broader alliance? The answer is an organization with increased functionality and requisite authorities. In other words, the new joint operations command will operate much like a Joint Force Headquarters to unify operational commands across the Japan Self-Defense Force. Japan's ability to provide a more comprehensive and timely response to emerging threats and natural disasters will significantly increase. This crucial step forward represents a key structural evolution and is being done in tandem with a growing defense budget marked by fundamental reinforcements in Japan's defense capabilities, including the acquisition of counterstrike capabilities. The combination of these measures signifies Japan's determination to serve in a leading role in providing regional security. Parallel to these changes, USFJ is transforming to better protect peace and security in the region. As we transition to a Joint Force Headquarters in the years ahead, we will integrate new capabilities across the joint warfighting functions, signaling an important shift to a more distributed and resilient force posture. Moving from a headquarters primarily charged with an alliance management mission to one that, in time, will integrate and synchronize operations that span the spectrum of operations from humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and armed conflict is a monumental task. Our aim is to field a capability that significantly enhances the depth of connectivity and warfighting effectiveness with our Japanese partners to strengthen the Alliance's deterrence. Growing USFJ in parallel with the Japan Self-Defense Force Joint Operations Command requires a collective vision and shared commitment, and I could not be more encouraged by the opportunities ahead. The most recent and visible commitment to the transformation is USFJ's launch of the Japan Self-Defense Force Joint Operations Command Cooperation Team, or JCT. This team is now serving as the primary interlocutor and liaison between our two independent command structures. It's a small team today, but it will continue to grow as USFJ expands its capabilities and authorities as part of our deliberate headquarters transformation efforts. The cooperation team's primary purpose is to further strengthen our bi-lateral ability to respond to crises or contingencies. This team marks the first tangible step we're taking to enhance our operational synergy with Japan. The team is operating from Tokyo and focused on daily, in-person collaboration opportunities across both parallel command structures. Additional organizational and structural changes to USFJ are also being developed in close consultation with U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. These shifts in command and control are occurring against the backdrop of intensifying regional concerns, including a rise in coercive and unprofessional military maneuvers in all domains of operations. These activities emphasize the necessity for a more robust U.S.-Japan security alliance. By modernizing our collective command and control structures, we are achieving deeper security cooperation while signaling a clear-eyed resolve to uphold stability, deter aggression, and ensure a prosperous future for the peace-loving people of Japan and the Indo-Pacific region. It is an honor to be a part of this alliance at such a pivotal moment, and I am confident that together we will rise to meet the challenges ahead.
20-06-2025
- General
Memorial Service Held in Fukuoka for Executed U.S. POWs
Fukuoka, June 20 (Jiji Press)--A memorial service was held in Fukuoka on Friday for U.S. prisoners of war who were executed without trial by the western command of the now-defunct Imperial Japanese Army in the closing days of World War II. The event was attended by people related to the POW executions from Japan and the United States, including a consul of the U.S. Consulate in Fukuoka and a U.S. Forces Japan chaplain. "We must do our part to ensure that the friendship between our two nations continues and leads to lasting peace," Katsuya Toji, 71, the third son of a former paymaster captain of the army who was judged a war criminal, said in his address at the ceremony, held at the Aburayama Kannon temple in the southwestern Japan city. Toji's father, Kentaro, executed four captured B-29 bomber crew members soon after Kentaro lost his mother in a U.S. air strike. "War leaves deep scars, not only on the defeated but also the victors," Toji stressed. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
Japan Today
14-05-2025
- Health
- Japan Today
Japan inspects U.S. base at Yokota over suspected PFAS chemical leak
The Japanese government on Wednesday conducted a second on-site inspection of the U.S. Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo over a possible leak of so-called PFAS chemicals, which may pose risks to human health. A similar action was carried out in December amid growing public concern after the United States reported a possible leakage of water containing PFAS from the firefighting training area following heavy rainfall in late August. But Wednesday's inspection marked the first time Japanese officials accessed Yokota Air Base under an environmental agreement supplementing the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement, which governs the use of U.S. military bases in Japan. The pact allows Japanese authorities to enter U.S. military bases in Japan to conduct environmental surveys. After processing, the U.S. side intends to release the remaining water at the base, which hosts the headquarters of U.S. Forces Japan. Japanese officials took a sample of the purified water, which they plan to analyze in the next two weeks or so. PFAS is a general term for a group of over 10,000 artificial chemicals that include PFOS, or perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, and PFOA, or perfluorooctanoic acid. Used in a wide range of products, including firefighting foam and nonstick cookware coatings, PFAS are known as "forever chemicals" because they break down very slowly and can accumulate in people, animals, plants and the environment. Exposure to certain levels of PFAS may increase the risk of some cancers. The U.S. military explained that about 380,000 liters of water are pooled at a firefighting facility, while 1.14 million liters remain in a reservoir, with the level of PFOS and PFOA registering 1,240 nanograms per liter. The Japanese Environment Ministry permits the release of water if PFOS and PFOA levels are below 50 nanograms per liter. Japan and the United States have agreed to discharge water from a drainage channel after confirming the concentration is within that threshold. The U.S. military said it is possible to clean the water through activated carbon filters. The latest inspection was carried out by the Japanese defense, foreign and environment ministries, as well as the Tokyo metropolitan government and local municipalities. © KYODO
Japan Today
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Japan Today
U.S. military, Okinawa hold 1st safety forum after sex assault cases
Representatives of U.S. forces in Japan and Okinawa authorities held their first meeting Friday under a new forum to discuss joint safety measures, following alleged sexual assault cases involving American service members in the southern island prefecture. In closed-door talks at the U.S. Marine Corps' Camp Foster, the U.S. military outlined its existing preventive measures, while both sides agreed to work toward holding a regular joint community patrol, like the one conducted in April in the city of Okinawa, and expanding it to other parts of the prefecture, according to a local government official. The launch of the new dialogue venue, named "Okinawa Community Partnership Forum," was announced in July last year by U.S. Forces Japan, after revelations of alleged sexual assault cases in June sparked renewed safety concerns among locals. Okinawa Prefecture hosts the bulk of U.S. military installations in Japan, and anti-base sentiment runs deep due to aircraft noise, pollution and crimes committed by American service members. The participants of the first meeting of the new forum included representatives from the Okinawa prefectural government, the city of Okinawa, local police, the U.S. forces on Okinawa and the U.S. Consulate General Naha. Officials from Japan's foreign and defense ministries also took part. The meeting is expected to be held about once a year going forward. Specific assault cases were not discussed in the meeting, according to the local government official. "Establishing an avenue for each organization to propose measures to prevent incidents involving U.S. military is of great significance," Masahito Tamari, director general of the Okinawa governor's office, told reporters after the meeting. The U.S. military said in its statement that the talks "highlighted the importance of ongoing communication and collaboration between USFJ and the Okinawa community." "Both sides reaffirmed their dedication to fostering a positive and mutually beneficial relationship based on trust and respect," it added. © KYODO
Asahi Shimbun
24-04-2025
- Asahi Shimbun
Okinawa police: 2 U.S. Marines suspected of sexual assault
NAHA—Less than a week after joint Japan-U.S. anti-crime patrols started in Okinawa Prefecture, police here on April 23 announced that two U.S. Marine Corps members have been accused of sexual assault. Okinawa prefectural police said they sent papers on the Marines to the Naha District Public Prosecutors Office on April 7. They did not say if the suspects have admitted to or denied the allegations. According to police, one of the Marines in his 20s is suspected of sexually assaulting a woman in a restroom at a U.S. military base on the main island of Okinawa in March. The woman was an employee of the base. The suspect is also believed to have caused a minor injury to another woman after the assault. Police sent papers to prosecutors regarding this injury, too. The other Marine, also in his 20s, allegedly sexually assaulted a female acquaintance on the main island of Okinawa in January. The three women each contacted prefectural police. The U.S. military, informed of the incidents, has identified the two service members. Under the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), Japan has jurisdiction over U.S. military personnel suspected of committing crimes while off-duty. However, if the United States detains the suspect, the U.S. military can hold that person until indictment by Japanese prosecutors. The two Marines are being held by the U.S. side, so Okinawa police are limited to questioning the suspects on a voluntary basis. A number of sex crimes linked to U.S. military personnel in Okinawa Prefecture were revealed in succession since June last year, reigniting anger within the prefectural government and among the local population. U.S. Forces Japan in July announced countermeasures to prevent a recurrence, including joint patrols conducted by prefectural police and the U.S. military, which started on April 18. The U.S. military had also announced it would hold a 'forum' to exchange opinions with the Okinawa prefectural government and local residents. But it has not held one yet. Last year, Okinawa police identified four cases of suspected sexual misconduct by U.S. military personnel, but one case was dropped. So far this year, three similar allegations have emerged. But one case sent to prosecutors in January was dropped due to insufficient evidence.
