Historical Dictionary of United States-Japan ... - Bakumatsu Films

132 • JAPAN–U.S. SECURITY CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE
August 1957 (the first SCC meeting was held on 16 August 1957).
The purpose of the SCC is to consider matters that pertain to implementation
of the Japan–U.S. security treaty. At the initial SCC meetings,
Japan was represented by its foreign minister, Defense Agency
director and other ministers depending on the issues discussed, while
the U.S. was represented by officials below cabinet-level. This disparity
was amended in 1990 when both countries decided to send cabinet-level
officials.
An SCC meeting can be held at anytime at the request of either
side. Meetings were at first generally held in Tokyo under the direction
of Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the U.S. Embassy.
The SCC produced a series of important accomplishments. For example,
on 22 December 1996, after holding a meeting, Foreign Minister
Yukihiko Ikeda, Defense Agency Director Fumio Kyuma, Secretary
of Defense William J. Perry, and U.S. Ambassador to Japan
Walter Mondale made a joint announcement. They reached the
common conclusion that because the Japan–U.S. security relationship
would continue to be a cornerstone of stability and prosperity in
the Asia–Pacific region, forward deployment of U.S. forces would be
indispensable factor to the pursuit of common goals in regional security.
They confirmed the facilities and districts with which the
Japanese government provided the U.S. forces and underscored the
importance of the host nation’s support. They also agreed that the
United States and Japan should pursue cooperation in ballistic missile
defense.
Moreover, in 1997, the SCC announced new guidelines on Japan–
U.S. defense cooperation and, in 2000, the Committee implemented
“sympathy” budget allocations (See JAPAN–U.S. STATUS-OF-
FORCES AGREEMENT). The SCC holds its meetings regularly. On
19 February 2005, its joint announcement stressed the importance of
mutual cooperation in responding to new threats of terrorism and
weapons of mass destruction, as well as in finding peaceful solutions
to various problems concerning North Korea. In recent years, Washington
and Tokyo have used the SCC to go beyond immediate security
treat matters to address the security environment in East Asia, cooperation
on global issues, and common strategic goals with regard
to such issues as energy and international terrorism.