Japan to continue paying $2b for US troops

Japan's government agreed yesterday to continue contributing $2.2 billion a year toward the cost of stationing American troops in the country.
Under the agrement with the United States, Japan's share will remain at the current 188 billion yen ($2.2 billion) through March 2016. The current pact expires next March.
Japan had sought a cut in its payment during months of negotiations on the renewal because of economic woes. But officials agreed on no reduction after tensions on the Korean peninsula and worries over China's growing military might highlighted the US military's role as a deterrent for security threats.
"As both Japan and the US are in extremely tight fiscal conditions, we are striving to act under the spirit of our alliance," Japanese Defense Minister said.