Text Fwd: WikiLeaks: US Offered SDF Permanent Presence on Guam

* Text fwd from Martha Duenas on May 12, 2011

Japan Times
US Offered SDF Permanent Presence on Guam
Kyodo
May 12, 2011

Guam - Washington has proposed that the Self-Defense Forces maintain a permanent presence on Guam to reinforce Japan-U.S. disaster response training, according to a U.S. diplomatic cable released by WikiLeaks.

According to the cable, then U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense Wallace Gregson said at a bilateral meeting in Tokyo on Feb. 2 last year that the U.S. "seeks the expanded use of Guam" for joint training between the U.S. military and the SDF.

If the plan were to be realized, it would be the first instance of the SDF having a permanent presence overseas.

The cable released by the whistle-blowing website indicated that Japanese officials at the meeting, including Nobushige Takamizawa, director general of the Defense Ministry's Defense Policy Bureau, did not give a clear response to the proposal.

"This joint training, combined with Japan's increased experience with humanitarian assistance and disaster response, such as with the SDF deployment to (quake-hit) Haiti, will demonstrate to the region Japan's ability to react to humanitarian aid situations and improve its national image," the cable said.

"A permanent SDF presence on Guam to support the training would be appropriate," Gregson was quoted as saying.

Japan has sent SDF units abroad for long-term missions to support U.N. peacekeeping and reconstruction in Iraq.