U.S. Marine relocation plan from Okinawa to Guam still vague
(From The Japan Times May 16 issue)

要約
不透明な在沖海兵隊グアム移転計画

The Diet on May 13 endorsed a Japan-U.S. accord on the planned transfer of U.S. Marines from Okinawa to Guam by 2014. The opposition-controlled Upper House voted it down, but under a constitutional provision, the Lower House's earlier approval of it prevailed.

The total relocation cost is set at $10.27 billion. Under the accord, Japan will shoulder $6.09 billion — up to $2.8 billion directly from the Japanese government and the remaining $3.29 billion in loan provisions. The Japanese money will be used for constructing the headquarters buildings, residences, schools and infrastructure, including water supply and sewerage. The government has not provided a clear cost breakdown — the main reason for the opposition parties' opposition to the accord. The accord is unusual in that Japan will be paying for the construction of U.S. military facilities overseas.

The relocation of Marines is contin gent on the moving of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Ginowan — in the central part of Okinawa Island — to Camp Schwab in Nago in the northern part of the island. The U.S. and Japanese governments have agreed on the detailed location of the new airfield. But the Okinawa Prefectural Government is against the location. Thus the move has been stalled.

Although the relocation of Marines is supposed to end by 2014, Adm. Timothy Keating, the commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, has said the transfer of Marines from Okinawa to Guam will take longer than planned. The U.S. Government Accountability Office also said in its September 2008 report that the cost could top $15 billion. If the cost increases, the United States may call on Japan to shoulder a bigger burden.

Although it has been publicized that some 8,000 Marines and some 9,000 dependents will move from Okinawa to Guam, this is inexact. The government now says the intention is to reduce the complement of Marines in Okinawa from 18,000 to 10,000. Since there are about 12,500 Marines in Okinawa, the plan suggests that fewer than 8,000 Marines will move to Guam. Many important things have yet to be explained about the relocation plan.

在沖縄米海兵隊グアム移転の日米協定が国会で承認された。移転総額約102.7億ドル中、日本側負担は約60.9億ドル。政府が積算根拠を明示していないことが野党の主な反対理由だ。外国軍隊の移転費を負担する協定は前代未聞だ。海兵隊の移転は沖縄県宜野湾市・米軍普天間飛行場の名護市への移設と一体だが、移設先をめぐる沖縄県側の反対で調整が難航している。

米太平洋軍キーティング司令官は2014年の移設完了予定が遅れる見通しを示し、米会計検査院は費用が150億ドル以上にのぼると試算、米政府が日本に負担増加を求める可能性もある。海兵隊員8000人と家族9000人移転との説明も不正確だ。政府は隊員の定員1万8000人を1万人に削減との趣旨だと述べたが、実数は定員以下なので、純減は8000人以下の可能性がある。移転計画の重要部分の説明が今後も必要だ。