The 2002 US Department of Defense report on "Allied Contribution to the Common Defense" highly praises the Japanese Self-Defense Forces' participation in operations in the Indian Ocean the past year in support of US forces.
The report, submitted to the US Congress, stressed that Japan recently expanded its role to actively take part in military activities at regional and global levels, in addition to providing financial support.
The report states that Japan has supplied prompt and essential support to US military activities in its "war on terrorism". The most important support was the Maritime Self-Defense Force going abroad for the first time in its history to support ongoing combat operations.
The report highly appreciated Japan's 20% annual increase in military spending. The report also revealed that Japan paid Washington US$3.87 billion in 2000 for the stationing of US troops in Japan.
From Green Left Weekly, November 20, 2002.
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