The Mainichi Daily reported yesterday that the Japan Defense Ministry and Finance Ministry plan to reduce funding allocated for the relocation of 8,000 US Marines from about 52 billion yen, or $667 million, to just 10 billion yen, or $128 million for fiscal year 2012.
The announcement comes on the heels of the U.S. Congress concluding negotiations on the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act that freezes significant funding for the Guam military buildup.
The NDAA nixed the entire $150 million allocated for the planned transfer of U.S. troops from Okinawa to Guam.
The bill also cut $303 million the House version of the bill proposed for military construction projects on Guam down to $83 million. In addition, $33 million allotted for civilian infrastructure projects, which was intended to support the buildup population increase, was removed in its entirety.
While the news could prove troublesome for the island, the Japanese government said that in spite of the U.S. Congress’ decision to cut funding for Guam, it remains firm that it will stick to the U.S.-Japan 2006 bilateral agreement.
“There is no change in the Japanese government’s stance on moving the U.S. Marines to Guam in order to reduce Okinawa’s burden,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura said during a press conference yesterday.
The U.S. House and Senate must now approve the 2012 NDAA before it is sent to President Obama for approval.
Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo, who sat on the House-Senate Conference Committee that hammered out the final version of the omnibus spending bill, has urged her colleagues to vote against the measure. She has also stated that if passed, she will urge Obama to veto the legislation.
