Press Conference by the Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

(Abridged)

REPORTER:On a different topic, concerning the planned transfer of US forces stationed in Okinawa to Guam, there are reports that in the deputy director general -level talks in August, the United States told Japan that it intended to significantly increase its number of combat units. Please comment on the authenticity of this.

DEPUTY CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SAITO:Are you referring to the news reported today by certain media sources? As you already know, the configuration of Marine Corps units stationed in Okinawa that are to be transferred to Guam has been presented in the joint statements made at the "2+2" meetings in May of last year and again in June of this year. Currently, various exchanges of views are taking place between the United State and Japan, but concrete details of the United States' policy have yet to be communicated to Japan. At any rate, there is no change in the transfer of 8,000 marines from Okinawa to Guam. Furthermore, Japan and the United States agree that the transfer must be carried out in a way that ensures a troop composition which maintains deterrence. So we would be grateful for the US's cooperation on this manner.

(Abridged)