The government is considering proposing to the United States during negotiations over the "sympathy budget" for next fiscal year on that the two countries strengthen their cooperation in new areas, such as space and cyberspace, The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned.
As the United States has had a presidential election this year, Japan and the United States are aiming to reach an agreement on a one-year extension of the bilateral special treaty that determines Tokyo's share of the cost of stationing U.S. troops in Japan.
According to government sources, foreign and defense senior officials from the two countries will start full-fledged negotiations as early as Wednesday, now that voting in the United States is over. The two governments held preparatory meetings on Oct. 15 and 16.
The five-year bilateral special treaty will expire at the end of March next year. They need to agree to revise the treaty by the end of this year for reasons related to Japan's budget process. Regardless of the outcome of the presidential election, Japan will negotiate with the administration of Donald Trump.
Trump has asked U.S. allies, including South Korea, to increase the amount they pay for stationing U.S. troops in their countries, but Japan will not accept a significant increase in payments. By showing a willingness to contribute to the United States in new areas, Japan is trying to soften Trump's stance.
The centerpiece of the envisioned cooperation is satellite constellations, which link the operations of a number of small satellites. Hypersonic glide vehicles developed by China and Russia fly at more than five times the speed of sound at low altitudes, making it difficult to intercept them under the current missile defense system.
The United States plans to launch a number of satellites capable of tracking and detecting new missiles, and hopes Japan, with its advanced technology, will participate in the project. Japan is also expected to propose cooperation measures in the field of cyberspace.
Under the current treaty, Japan pays a total of 946.5 billion yen in five years, including basic salaries for 23,178 U.S. military base employees.
Japan initially planned to conclude a five-year treaty with the United States, but it switched its aim to temporarily extending the agreement by one year. The U.S. government was not ready for the negotiations due to the presidential election, and the start of talks was delayed.
If the two sides reach an agreement, Japan is expected to shoulder about 203 billion yen in costs next fiscal year.
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