A security treaty was concluded in 1960 between the United States and Japan. It is 60 years in June this year. The treaty has altered exceedingly for these 60 years from the original initiative to develop to a bilateral military alliance in which Japan follows up the world strategy of the counterpart.

REVISE IMMEDIATELY THE STATUS OF FORCES AGREEMENT!

The worst SOFA

As a result of the Asian-Pacific War, the military of the United States occupied Japan as a stronghold to prevent communism, encouraging democratization of the country in parallel.

In September 1951 the first security treaty was agreed on simultaneously with the San Francisco Treaty, which assured the US occupation forces to stay in Japan forever. Thus, Okinawa had been under the administration of the United States till 1972.

In 1960 the security treaty was amended, which authorized the right of US military to stay in Japan in exchange of her obligation to defend Japan.

The article seven of the security treaty sets forth ‘the Status of Forces Agreement = SOFA’ to be bilaterally concluded; this means extraterritoriality of the United States under which the US troops and civilian personnel deployed in the country are not governed by the Japanese administration. For this reason an innumerable number of crimes and accidents committed by the US military have been practically exempted from indictment, in Okinawa in particular. Nowhere in the world can be seen such disgraceful status.

Automatic extension of treaty continues

It is 60 years since the new security treaty was concluded. In the year of 1960 when it was amended, massive people’s campaigns against the treaty were staged throughout the nation; an extraordinary number of protesters came around the parliamentary building uninterruptedly for days and 330 thousand people gathered there on June 15. Everyone knows a college student Michiko Kamba was killed in the confrontation.

The treaty has been automatically extended since 1970 when it was amended to be abolished if either side of the two countries unilaterally announces withdrawal. Without such a claim the treaty remains as it is.

Treaty turns to be a collective security scheme

The article five of the treaty provides that Japan shall not defend the US military in the event of an armed conflict that should occur beyond the territory of jurisdiction of the Japanese administration. It is because, according to the exact interpretation, the right of collective self-defense is prohibited by Article Nine of the Japanese Constitution.

The Self Defense Forces (SDF) of Japan, however, have practically carried out the right of collective self-defense, as is seen in the logistics of the US military, in accordance with the Special Laws which specify areas of activities and terms of troops’ deployment.

Aliance against China and DPRK

The bilateral treaty has changed enormously from the original design. Today it is an alliance to enforce the US strategy on Asia. The SDF have attained capabilities to attack adversary’s bases thanks to the annually increasing military budgets, assuming China as a potential enemy. Moreover, the government purchases varieties of weapons from the Trump government which sets prices unilaterally. In addition, the Abe government has lately organized a new troop to expand its war theater to the outer space.

Peace cannot be guaranteed by the armed forces. The military alliance must be abolished. Stop the construction work at Henoko, Okinawa, of a new military base! Amend the servile SOFA so that Japanese jurisdiction covers the US military in the country!

June 16, 2020