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The Yomiuri Shimbun
Japan-U.S. talks on ‘sympathy budget’ must be based on trust in alliance
思いやり予算　日米同盟の信頼損ねぬ議論を

Tokyo should conduct discussions calmly with Washington over its budgetary appropriations for host-nation support to U.S. forces in Japan — known as “omoiyari yosan” (sympathy budget) — because this support is crucial for this country’s security.
　日本の安全保障に不可欠な経費負担であり、冷静に議論したい。

Negotiations between Japanese and U.S. governments have gone into high gear over a special treaty to determine Japan’s share of the cost of U.S. forces stationed in this country in fiscal 2016 and thereafter.
　２０１６年度以降の在日米軍駐留経費の日本側負担（思いやり予算）を定める特別協定を巡り、日米両政府の交渉が本格化している。

The Japanese side is insisting on a drastic reduction of its burden, but the U.S. side is poised to maintain its demand that the cost be increased by several tens of percents.
　日本側が大幅な削減を主張するのに対し、米側は数十％の増額を求めて譲らない構えだ。

The Japanese government wants to conclude the negotiations by the end of this year and have a new draft treaty endorsed by the ordinary Diet session next year.
　年末までに交渉を妥結させたうえ、日本政府は来年の通常国会で新協定案の承認を求める。

The sympathy budget made its debut in fiscal 1978. It mainly pays for the development and maintenance of barracks and housing units stipulated under the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement, and labor costs and some of the expense of lighting, heating and water determined by a special treaty that is renewed every two to five years.
　思いやり予算は、１９７８年度から始まった。日米地位協定に基づく隊舎、住宅などの施設整備費と、２～５年ごとに更新される特別協定で定める労務費や、光熱水料の一部負担が柱である。

The sympathy budget in fiscal 2015 is ¥189.9 billion. The budget has been gradually reduced after reaching a peak at ¥275.6 billion in fiscal 1999. But it has tended to level off in recent years.
　１５年度の総額は、１８９９億円だ。９９年度の２７５６億円をピークに徐々に減少してきたが、近年は横ばい傾向にある。

In the current negotiations with the United States, Japan is requesting the abolition or reduction of the labor costs for employees at movie theaters and other entertainment facilities within U.S. bases, as well as expenses for lighting, heating and water because of the country’s difficult fiscal situation and the recent depreciation of the yen.
　日本側は今回の交渉で、基地内の映画館など娯楽施設従業員の労務費や、光熱水料の廃止・縮減を求めている。厳しい財政事情や円安傾向が続いているためだ。

Bases key for security

Japan’s share of the burden will certainly increase in the future due to realignment of U.S. forces stationed in the country such as the transfer of U.S. marines in Okinawa Prefecture to Guam.
　在沖縄海兵隊のグアム移転など在日米軍再編に伴う日本側の財政負担は今後、確実に増加する。

Formulation of new Guidelines for Japan-U.S. Defense Cooperation and development of the new security-related laws will lead to the Self-Defense Forces expanding activities conducted jointly with U.S. forces. Japan uses this as one of the reasons for demanding a reduction of its cost burden.
　新たな日米防衛協力の指針（ガイドライン）の策定や安全保障関連法の整備により、自衛隊の米軍協力の余地も広がる。これらも、減額要求の理由としている。

It is a matter of course for the government to try to eliminate wasteful spending in reducing the amount it pays for U.S. forces stationed in Japan and to rationalize use of the sympathy budget.
　駐留経費の無駄遣いを排除するとともに、予算の使途の合理化を図るのは当然のことだ。

However, U.S. forces stationed in Japan are a foundation of the Japan-U.S. alliance. Therefore, it is significant to maintain quality of life for U.S. military personnel.
　ただ、米軍の駐留は、日米同盟の根幹である。米兵の「生活の質」を維持することも重要だ。

Washington has reportedly cited reduction of its defense spending and the arms buildup due to its rebalancing effort to Asia as reasons for demanding an increase in Japan’s burden.
　米側は、増額要求の理由として、国防費の削減や、アジア重視のリバランス（再均衡）政策に伴う軍備増強を挙げているという。

North Korea’s nuclear development and China’s maritime advances have made the security environment surrounding Japan increasingly volatile. The significance of the deterrence provided by U.S. forces in Japan is certainly increasing.
　北朝鮮の核開発や、中国の海洋進出などで、日本を取り巻く安全保障環境は厳しさを増している。在日米軍の抑止力の重要性が高まっているのは確かだ。

Also, U.S. forces in Japan are in effect a public asset for the Asia-Pacific region. It was a U.S. Aegis-equipped destroyer based at Yokosuka Naval Base that sailed within 12 nautical miles of at least one of China’s artificial islands in the South China Sea.
　在日米軍はアジア太平洋地域の公共財という側面もある。南シナ海で中国の人工島の１２カイリ内を航行したのは、米軍横須賀基地配備のイージス駆逐艦だった。

The government has shouldered part of the costs for U.S. forces in Japan not out of “sympathy.” They are necessary costs to secure peace and stability of Japan and in its neighboring region, and a fair share of responsibility as a U.S. ally.
　在日米軍経費の一部を日本が負担するのは、「思いやり」ではない。日本と地域の平和と安定を確保するための必要経費であり、同盟国としての責任の分担だ。

The negotiations for the current treaty from fiscal 2011 to fiscal 2015 experienced rough going, too, because of the vast difference between assertions made by Japan and the United States. But they finally agreed to maintain the status quo.
　１１～１５年度の現協定の交渉も双方の主張の隔たりが大きく、難航したが、最終的に現状維持で折り合った。

Tokyo and Washington must search for common ground by negotiating with each other based on how important this alliance is.
日米両政府は、同盟関係の重要性を踏まえて交渉し、着地点を探ることが大切である。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 7, 2015)