Japan has no intention to change a Japan-US security treaty clause which defines the scope of mutual defense cooperation, said Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda on Wednesday, in a gesture to downplay remarks made by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi the day before.

"On the review of US forces in Japan, there is a view that it will lead to a change in the security treaty's Article 6, but we will have to secure its consistency," Hosoda said in a press conference.

The clause in the Japan-US security treaty grants the US forces right to use bases in Japan to contribute to "the security of Japan and the maintenance of international peace and security in the Far East."

Koizumi said on Tuesday that an envisaged US military realignment issue "should be discussed from the viewpoints of the security treaty and the Japan-US alliance in the global context."

The two countries are in talks about the realignment of US troops in Japan. Washington had reportedly proposed to move the Army's 1st Corps command from the state of Washington to Japan.

Japan has been supporting US-led operations against terrorism and in Iraq by sending warships and troops. It also aims to play amore active role in international security affairs despite a lot legal problems need to be addressed, including its pacifist constitution.

Source: Xinhua