Sec. 1287. Sense of Congress regarding Japan and SMA report draft
678 words·~3 min read·
/bill/116/hr/6395/pcs/section-1287A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
It is the Sense of Congress that— the United States greatly values its alliance with the Government of Japan, based on shared values of democracy, the rule of law, a rules-based international order, and respect for human rights; the United States-Japan alliance has been the cornerstone of peace, stability, and security in the Indo-Pacific for more than seven decades; the United States and Japan are indispensable partners in addressing global challenges, including combating the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, preventing piracy, assisting the victims of conflict and disaster worldwide, safeguarding maritime security, and ensuring freedom of navigation, commerce, and overflight in the Indo-Pacific region; the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s
(DPRK)nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons programs and ballistic missile programs pose a critical threat to the stability of the Indo-Pacific region and to the security of Japan; the People’s Republic of China’s use of military forces to challenge territory under Japan’s administrative control violate international norms and thereby threaten regional stability. the United States reaffirms its commitment to Article V of the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States of America and Japan, which applies to the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands; United States forces forward-deployed in Japan, consisting of 54,000 United States forces, United States Seventh Fleet, the only forward-deployed United States aircraft carrier, and the United States Marine Corps’ III Marine Expeditionary Force, are essential to sustaining United States national security and regional peace and stability; the United States and Japan should continue to deepen defense cooperation to enhance collective defense and regional security; Japan makes significant contributions to regional and global security, including contributions to regional Ballistic Missile Defense, conducting bilateral presence operations and mutual asset protection missions with United States forces, serving as a capacity building contributor to United Nations peacekeeping operations, and providing critical support to United Nations Security Council Resolution enforcement operations against the DPRK’s illicit weapons programs; the United States recognizes the substantial financial commitments of Japan to the maintenance of United States forces in Japan, including contributions of approximately $2,000,000,000 annually under the Special Measures Agreement, $187,000,000 annually under the Japan Facilities Improvement Program, $12,100,000,000 for the Futenma Replacement Facility, and $4,800,000,000 for Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, that directly support operational readiness of United States forces in Japan and make Japan among the most significant burden-sharing partners of the United States; and it is in the national security interest of the United States that the United States and Japan conclude a new Special Measures Agreement, negotiated based on the principles of mutual respect, equity, and our shared national security interests, prior to the expiration of the current agreement. Not later than January 1, 2021, the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall provide a report on the costs most directly associated with the stationing of United States forces in Japan to the congressional defense committees, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. At a minimum, the report shall include— a description of each category of costs, including labor, utilities, training relocation, and any other categories the Secretary determines to be appropriate, that are most directly associated with the stationing of United States forces in Japan; a detailed description of which costs most directly associated with the stationing of United States forces in Japan are incurred in Japan and which such costs are incurred outside of Japan; a detailed summary of contributions made by the Government of Japan that allay the costs to United States of stationing United States forces in Japan; the benefits to United States national security and regional security derived from the forward presence of United States Armed Forces in Japan; the impact to the national security of the United States, the security of Japan, and peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region if a new Special Measures Agreement is not reached before March 31, 2021; and any other matters the Secretary deems appropriate to include. The report shall be unclassified without any designation relating to dissemination control, but may include a classified annex.