COMMENTARY / Japan

Fix structural problems now or face SOFA revision later

The U.S. talks the talk when it come s to Japan’s concerns but often fails to actually walk the walk

Calls for revising the 1960 Status of Forces Agreement are growing amid calls to make sure the American military follows laws and rules set out by the Japanese government, especially after U.S. forces ignored Japanese compliance requests on COVID-19 mitigation efforts. | REUTERS

By Robert D. Eldridge
Contributing writer

Jan 19, 2022

The U.S. military in Japan in recent weeks is coming under intense scrutiny and correct criticism of its handling of COVID-19 infections among its personnel and dependents and lack of full compliance with related Japanese government requests.

Last month, the new foreign minister, Yoshimasa Hayashi, told Lt. Gen Ricky Rupp, the commander of U.S. forces in Japan, to improve the situation on Dec. 22 and had to make a stronger request to his U.S. counterpart, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during talks on Jan. 6. Blinken reportedly responded to the effect that the “health and safety of residents in communities near U.S. military bases are important to the United States” and that he would explain Japan’s request to the Defense Department.

But actually doing is more important than simply saying, and the U.S. military has a long history of talking the talk but not walking the walk. As such, there have been renewed calls for a revision of the 1960 Status of Forces Agreement to make sure the U.S. military follows the guidance set out by the Japanese government.