Latest news with #U.S.ForcesJapan
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.
Japan Times
21-03-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Pentagon eyeing plan to halt U.S. Forces Japan upgrade, reports say
The Pentagon is reportedly considering halting a planned expansion of U.S. Forces Japan, a key element of Washington's push to more aggressively counter Chinese military assertiveness, drawing immediate criticism from congressional heavyweights. According to draft documents seen by NBC and CNN, halting plans to convert USFJ into a joint force headquarters could save about $1.1 billion in costs related to personnel and command and control upgrades. But it could also create 'political risk' for Washington with Tokyo and reduce the scope of command and control in the Indo-Pacific region as the U.S.-China rivalry heats up. Asked for comment by The Japan Times, a Defense Department spokesperson said the Pentagon was aware of the reports, but had 'no announcements to make on this issue.' 'The U.S.-Japan Alliance is at the strongest point in its history and the U.S. commitment to Japan is ironclad,' the spokesperson said in an email. 'The Alliance continues to be the cornerstone of regional peace and security and is at the heart of our Indo-Pacific strategy.' The reported move would be part of a broader plan to significantly slash the Defense Department's budget of more than $800 billion. The plan would also include merging combatant commands and the U.S. giving up its role as NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe. But rolling back the plans to expand USFJ would be a dramatic U-turn for an increasingly integrated alliance, following the announcement last July to upgrade the U.S. military in Japan 'to expand its missions and operational responsibilities' — a move labeled 'the most significant change to U.S. Forces Japan since its creation.' Japan is a crucial U.S. ally in the Indo-Pacific, offering the United States military a force multiplier for countering an increasingly assertive and powerful China, with Tokyo widely seen as Washington's most important partner in Asia, if not the world, observers say. During a February summit, U.S. President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba reconfirmed the importance of the need to 'further strengthen' U.S.-Japan deterrence and response capabilities by upgrading their respective command and control frameworks. Japan's top government spokesman, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, said Friday that 'there is no change in this policy.' 'We would like to continue close discussions between Japan and the U.S. on further strengthening the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-U.S. alliance, including improving the respective command and control frameworks,' he told a news conference. The reported proposal to halt USFJ expansion triggered a quick response from congressional leaders who worried that such a move would hand a win to China and others in the region. Republicans Sen. Roger Wicker, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Rep. Mike Rogers, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said in a joint statement Wednesday that they are "very concerned" that the Defense Department is 'considering unilateral changes on major strategic issues, including significant reductions to U.S. forces stationed abroad, absent coordination with the White House and Congress.' 'We will not accept significant changes to our warfighting structure that are made without a rigorous interagency process, coordination with combatant commanders and the Joint Staff, and collaboration with Congress,' the statement said. 'Such moves risk undermining American deterrence around the globe and detracting from our negotiating positions with America's adversaries.' The reports come as Japan's Self-Defense Forces gear up to inaugurate a new Joint Operations Command, known as the JJOC, to improve the SDF's cross-domain operations and enhance coordination with U.S. forces and other partners, with JJOC serving as a counterpart to the envisioned U.S. joint force headquarters. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in February that he was focused on strengthening the military by cutting fiscal fraud, waste and abuse at the Pentagon while also finding ways to refocus the department's budget. On Thursday, Hegseth directed the termination of more than $580 million in programs, contracts and grants. Hegseth is set to visit Japan for the first time at the end of this month as the allies mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Halting the planned USFJ expansion, as well as calling for Tokyo to spend more on its own defense and cough up more cash for hosting U.S. troops, could be on the agenda.
