Transfer of carrier-based aircraft to Iwakuni to be implemented as planned
Jan. 28, 2010
by Noritaka Araki, Staff Writer
On January 27, it was learned that the Hatoyama administration will proceed with a policy of transferring 59 carrier-based aircraft at the Atsugi Naval Air Station in Kanagawa Prefecture to the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station in Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture. This move is part of the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan, in line with the plan developed by the previous administration of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito.
The government presented this policy in a written statement, responding to inquiries on the issue from a Diet member. The manifesto of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) stated that the party "intends to review the issue" of the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan.
On January 18, Masayoshi Hamada, a New Komeito Upper House member and deputy director of Komeito Kanagawa, submitted a statement of the inquiries in line with Diet law. Mr. Hamada stressed in the statement that "residents of Kanagawa Prefecture are concerned that the Futenma issue may affect the transfer of the carrier-based aircraft" amid the confusion over the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station in Futenma in Okinawa Prefecture, which the government is now reviewing. He then appealed, "I want the government to clearly show its political will to complete the transfer of the carrier-based aircraft by 2014 as the Japanese and U.S. governments agreed to in their road map made in 2006, even if the relocation of the Futenma Air Station is being reconsidered."
In response, the government, on the evening of January 26, sent to Mr. Hamada a written statement approved at a cabinet meeting. The statement, issued under the name of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, said, "The Japanese government intends to implement the transfer of the carrier-based aircraft in line with the road map." Regarding the maintenance-related department of the carrier-based aircraft in the Atsugi Air Station, the statement said, "We understand that the department will be moved to Iwakuni, too."
The DPJ, in its manifesto issued for the Lower House election last summer, declared that it "intends to review" the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan and the Hatoyama administration initiated its efforts to review the relocation of the Futenma Air Station immediately after the administration was established. The administration also indicated that it would reexamine the transfer of the carrier-based aircraft, which has generated strong concerns over noise damage in the city of Iwakuni and other areas.
Keywords
Realignment of U.S. forces in Japan
The Japanese and U.S. governments agreed on the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan in 2006 with the aim of maintaining the deterrence provided by U.S. forces while reducing the burden on local areas. The realignment is intended to be completed by 2014. The agreement includes the relocation of the Futenma Air Station to the city of Nago in Okinawa Prefecture and the transfer of 8,000 U.S. marines in Okinawa to Guam, as well as the transfer of the 59 carrier-based aircraft at the Atsugi Air Station, which have caused noise damage, to Iwakuni. If the transfer is implemented, the aircraft stationed at the Iwakuni Base will almost double to a total of 120 aircraft, making it the largest squadron of aircraft stationed in the Far East.
(Originally published on January 28, 2010)
On January 27, it was learned that the Hatoyama administration will proceed with a policy of transferring 59 carrier-based aircraft at the Atsugi Naval Air Station in Kanagawa Prefecture to the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station in Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture. This move is part of the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan, in line with the plan developed by the previous administration of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito.
The government presented this policy in a written statement, responding to inquiries on the issue from a Diet member. The manifesto of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) stated that the party "intends to review the issue" of the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan.
On January 18, Masayoshi Hamada, a New Komeito Upper House member and deputy director of Komeito Kanagawa, submitted a statement of the inquiries in line with Diet law. Mr. Hamada stressed in the statement that "residents of Kanagawa Prefecture are concerned that the Futenma issue may affect the transfer of the carrier-based aircraft" amid the confusion over the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station in Futenma in Okinawa Prefecture, which the government is now reviewing. He then appealed, "I want the government to clearly show its political will to complete the transfer of the carrier-based aircraft by 2014 as the Japanese and U.S. governments agreed to in their road map made in 2006, even if the relocation of the Futenma Air Station is being reconsidered."
In response, the government, on the evening of January 26, sent to Mr. Hamada a written statement approved at a cabinet meeting. The statement, issued under the name of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, said, "The Japanese government intends to implement the transfer of the carrier-based aircraft in line with the road map." Regarding the maintenance-related department of the carrier-based aircraft in the Atsugi Air Station, the statement said, "We understand that the department will be moved to Iwakuni, too."
The DPJ, in its manifesto issued for the Lower House election last summer, declared that it "intends to review" the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan and the Hatoyama administration initiated its efforts to review the relocation of the Futenma Air Station immediately after the administration was established. The administration also indicated that it would reexamine the transfer of the carrier-based aircraft, which has generated strong concerns over noise damage in the city of Iwakuni and other areas.
Keywords
Realignment of U.S. forces in Japan
The Japanese and U.S. governments agreed on the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan in 2006 with the aim of maintaining the deterrence provided by U.S. forces while reducing the burden on local areas. The realignment is intended to be completed by 2014. The agreement includes the relocation of the Futenma Air Station to the city of Nago in Okinawa Prefecture and the transfer of 8,000 U.S. marines in Okinawa to Guam, as well as the transfer of the 59 carrier-based aircraft at the Atsugi Air Station, which have caused noise damage, to Iwakuni. If the transfer is implemented, the aircraft stationed at the Iwakuni Base will almost double to a total of 120 aircraft, making it the largest squadron of aircraft stationed in the Far East.
(Originally published on January 28, 2010)
