U.S. military personnel who cause traffic accidents after drinking alcohol at events considered part of their official duties will no longer be able to avoid trial in Japan.
The revision to the operation of the Status of Forces Agreement, which governs the handling of U.S. service personnel in Japan, was reached Friday by the high-level Japan-U.S. Joint Committee, the Foreign Ministry said. SOFA now states that "drinking intoxicating beverages shall remove such person from his official duty status."
Japan has no authority under SOFA to try U.S. military personnel who have allegedly committed crimes in Japan while on duty.
Foreign Minister Koichiro Genba informed Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima of the new arrangement in Tokyo on Friday.
The revision came after a bilateral agreement was reached in November to give Japan jurisdiction over accidents and crimes involving civilian staff at U.S. bases who are on duty under certain circumstances.
The changes are seen as efforts by Tokyo and Washington to make progress in the contentious relocation of the U.S. Futenma base within Okinawa.