US and Japan adopt defence pact

The United States and Japan have adopted plans to sharply cut US forces in Okinawa, deploy a powerful missile defence radar in Japan and bind their militaries more closely together.

The US would move 7000 Marines from Okinawa to Guam, reducing the size of its force in Okinawa to 11,000, Japanese defence chief Yoshinori Ohno said. US officials said they hoped to accomplish the move within six years.

Japan committed to an expansion in the roles and missions of its defence forces, which will train, exercise, plan and operate alongside US forces on shared bases, officials said.