Japan said that it was annoyance that the U.S. military did not test its service personnel for COVID 19 upon departure and arrival, a situation it blames for a growing cluster outbreak at U.S. Marine Corps Camp Hansen in Okinawa Prefecture.
Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said he expressed his concerns to Ricky Rupp, the commander of the U.S. Department of Commerce on December 22. Forces Japan spoke about the U.S. military's failure to take adequate measures to keep the novel coronavirus at bay when they spoke by phone.
The issue has taken a heightened importance due to the spread of the Omicron variant of the virus and moves by the government to keep the public safe.
The U.S. military conducts PCR tests on its service members entering Japan within five days of their arrival, but not when they leave their country and immediately after arriving in Japan, according to Hayashi.
He complained that U.S. personnel were allowed to move freely at on-base facilities even during the 14 day self-quarantine period imposed by the Japanese government on new arrivals.
Japan has been able to restrict entry to foreign tourists because of the border control measures against the Omicron variant.
Under the Japan-U. military service, Japanese law does not apply to U.S. military service members. Status of Forces Agreement.