Legislation on the new Japan-U.S. defense guidelines must provide the state with legal grounds for asking local administrations to give logistical support to U.S. forces in emergencies, a top defense agency official said April 16.
The defense guidelines, revised last fall, urge better cooperation between troops from the U.S. and the Japanese Self-Defense forces in contingencies in areas surrounding Japan.
In such circumstances, cooperation could be sought from local governments and private sectors, according to an outline of the planned legislation. "As for private sectors, we would just ask for cooperation," Masahiro Akiyama, vice minister of the Defense Agency, told reporters at a regular press conference. "But with local governments, a simple request is not enough."