A bit of information of possible value in comprehending international power/money processes- Japan pays the US – for the costs of maintaining US military presences in Japan; every year. The latest release from NKH:
“Japan and the United States have signed an agreement on financing of the cost of maintaining US military bases in Japan. The accord stipulates that Japanese spending will remain at almost the current level over the next 5 years.
“It was signed by Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and US Ambassador Caroline Kennedy at the Foreign Ministry in Tokyo on Friday. The existing agreement on the matter, traditionally known as “sympathy budget” in Japan, expires at the end of March.
“The new agreement sets Japan’s annual host-nation support at 189.3 billion yen, or about 1.6 billion dollars. That’s almost unchanged from the 189.9 billion yen for the current fiscal year ending in March.
“Kishida said the importance of the US military presence is growing due to the increasingly severe security environment, including North Korea’s latest nuclear test. He said the new agreement is designed to help create a stronger bilateral alliance while taking Japan’s tight budget into account.
“Kennedy said the alliance has never been stronger in all its dimensions, and the signing of the pact is further evidence of that.”
The url: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20160122_26.html
keep in mind NHK urls stop working quickly- usually.
A trivial amount of money- except I guarantee this is money extracted from the citizens; now with the highest percentage on welfare in Japanese history- not imaginary money from easing of the .1%’s banks. This was food, housing, education money.
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