News

A government cost-cutting panel is considering a review of the financial burden shouldered by Japan for the upkeep of U.S. forces stationed here.

Officials for the Defense Ministry reported the planned budget allocation related to U.S. forces in Japan, including the maintenance expenses for U.S. servicemen's housing facilities and personnel costs for Japanese workers at U.S. bases, to a debriefing session with a Government Revitalization Unit study team on Monday.

The final decision as to whether the budget allocation should be reviewed will be left up to Minister of State for Government Revitalization Yoshito Sengoku's discretion; however, with the Japan-U.S. relations already shaky over the relocation issue of the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa Prefecture, the government's new agenda is likely to cause further controversy.

The Defense Ministry has earmarked 191.9 billion yen in funds to cover part of the expenses of U.S. forces in Japan in its fiscal 2010 budget request. This includes 22.7 billion yen in maintenance costs for housing and wastewater treatment facilities at U.S. bases, as well as the partial assumption of some 123.6 billion yen labor costs.

The work team plans to examine about 250 public projects overall, of which around 200 will be scrutinized by the panel for their validity. It still remains uncertain, however, whether the two projects regarding the U.S. troops will be revised.

During a House of Representatives plenary session on Thursday, Hatoyama said that his administration aims to slash the financial burden from hosting U.S. forces, saying: "We must review the issue in a comprehensive manner in order to achieve efficient and effective budget allocation."

Sengoku said on Saturday that "If there is a major problem, we should also consider screening projects involving U.S. forces in Japan."