Komura dismisses call for reviewing accord on U.S. forces

Kyodo News
Feb 15, 2008

TOKYO — Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura on Friday dismissed calls for a fundamental review of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement in the wake of an alleged rape by a U.S. Marine, saying it would be difficult for Japan to press further due to "global standards."

Noting that the United States has similar agreements with South Korea and other countries where its forces are stationed, Komura said, "And it is only in Japan that there is an operational arrangement where the U.S. military will hand over a suspect even prior to indictment in the case of heinous crimes.

So from the U.S. point of view, Japan is already one rank above the global standard. The latest incident was an awful one, but can Japan diplomatically demand more revisions because of this?"