CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — Japan’s Diet approved a bilateral accord Wednesday that obligates Japan to pay $2.8 billion for the move of 8,000 Marines and their families to Guam.
The money is to be used for construction projects related to the move of the major Marine commands on Okinawa. In all, Japan has agreed to pay $6.09 billion of the estimated $10.27 billion cost for the project.
The remaining money will be paid in loans and investments, which do not require approval by Japan’s legislature. The $6.09 billion does not include the cost of building a new air facility on Camp Schwab to replace Marine Corps Air Station Futenma.
The move of the Marines to Guam is expected be completed in 2014.
"I am greatly pleased that the Diet endorsed the accord, which has a significant meaning to reduce the burden of Okinawa while maintaining the deterrence power of the military in the region," Minister of Foreign Affairs Hirofumi Nakasone told reporters in Tokyo following the Diet vote.
"The government of Japan will continue to hold consultations with local government bodies, in accordance with the road map of realignment agreed to in May 2005, to steadily implement the realignment of U.S. Forces in Japan, including moving of Marines from Okinawa to Guam."
Not everyone was happy about contributing so much money for the project. The bill was rejected by the House of Councilors, dominated by opposition parties, Wednesday morning. However, the House of Representatives, dominated by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its allies, overruled the upper house vote.
The bill is considered a treaty and is expected to be enacted 30 days after passage.
The pact on the Guam move was signed by Nakasone and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in February.
Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima was cautious in making a comment on the Diet’s action.
"I understand that the accord is to give a legal ground for the Japanese government to carry out realignment projects," Nakaima said, according to Susumu Matayoshi, chief of the prefecture’s Military Affairs Office.
"I believe the realignment, which involves moving Marines to Guam from Okinawa and the closure of military bases located south of Kadena Air Base, contributes to reduction of the burden. In this sense, it should be steadily carried out."
He stressed, however, that he was still opposed to current plans for the new airfield on Camp Schwab. Nakaima wants the V-shaped runways, planned to be built on the tip of Cape Henoko and extending into Oura Bay, to be placed farther offshore.
In a prepared statement from his Tokyo office, Osamu Ashitomi, Liberal Democratic member of the House of Representatives from Okinawa, welcomed the passage of the accord.
"It is a big step toward a new era for Okinawa," he said. "The accord will facilitate both closure of military bases on Okinawa and the move of Marines to Guam. The people of Okinawa must cope with the changes with strong commitment and determination."
Okinawa groups opposed to the new air station voiced their displeasure with the Diet’s action.
Kantoku Teruya, a Social Democratic Party member of the House of Representatives, complained that the move "is in a package deal that includes construction of a new gigantic military facility at Henoko. For Okinawa, such changes are rather a growth of military presence."
Added Teruya: "It is absolutely unacceptable that the government uses our taxpayer money to help move a foreign military."
