Defense Minister denies review of plan to relocate carrier-based aircraft to Iwakuni
Feb. 1, 2010
by Kohei Okata and Noritaka Araki, Staff Writers
On January 29, Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa expressed a negative view on a review of the plan to relocate carrier-based aircraft to the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station in Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture, as part of the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan. Mr. Kitazawa stressed his position to seek understanding from the local area about the government's decision to move forward with the relocation in line with the road map agreed upon by Japan and the United States.
At a regular press conference, Mr. Kitazawa referred to the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station in Futenma, Okinawa Prefecture, and said that the implementation of the transfer of the carrier-based aircraft in line with the current plan would proceed. "The Futenma issue has become a major political theme in the Lower House election and is now under discussion," he explained. "However, the administration cannot go so far as to start all over again on the road map." He intends to offer an explanation to the local area during his visit to Iwakuni, a trip being planned for mid-February.
Cabinet ministers have successively issued statements in step with the government. Katsuya Okada, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who had expressed his intention to examine the transfer of the carrier-based aircraft last December, has now indicated that "The Ministry of Defense has offered the necessary explanation."
Mizuho Fukushima, leader of the Social Democratic Party and the Minister of State for Consumer Affairs and Food Safety, Social Affairs, and Gender Equality, has been the most vocal in calling for a review of the realignment of U.S. forces among the three parties of the ruling coalition. Ms. Fukushima has also asked for the public's understanding, saying, "The current situation hardly allows us to conduct an overall review of the realignment. We are doing our utmost to lessen the burden on people in Okinawa."
The Democratic Party of Japan had stipulated in its manifesto for the Lower House election that it "intends to review" the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan without limiting the review to Okinawa. However, the government, at a cabinet meeting on January 26, approved a written statement saying that it will "advance the transfer of the carrier-based aircraft in line with the road map."
(Originally published on January 30, 2010)
Related articles
Transfer of carrier-based aircraft to Iwakuni to be implemented as planned (Jan. 28, 2010)
On January 29, Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa expressed a negative view on a review of the plan to relocate carrier-based aircraft to the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station in Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture, as part of the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan. Mr. Kitazawa stressed his position to seek understanding from the local area about the government's decision to move forward with the relocation in line with the road map agreed upon by Japan and the United States.
At a regular press conference, Mr. Kitazawa referred to the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station in Futenma, Okinawa Prefecture, and said that the implementation of the transfer of the carrier-based aircraft in line with the current plan would proceed. "The Futenma issue has become a major political theme in the Lower House election and is now under discussion," he explained. "However, the administration cannot go so far as to start all over again on the road map." He intends to offer an explanation to the local area during his visit to Iwakuni, a trip being planned for mid-February.
Cabinet ministers have successively issued statements in step with the government. Katsuya Okada, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who had expressed his intention to examine the transfer of the carrier-based aircraft last December, has now indicated that "The Ministry of Defense has offered the necessary explanation."
Mizuho Fukushima, leader of the Social Democratic Party and the Minister of State for Consumer Affairs and Food Safety, Social Affairs, and Gender Equality, has been the most vocal in calling for a review of the realignment of U.S. forces among the three parties of the ruling coalition. Ms. Fukushima has also asked for the public's understanding, saying, "The current situation hardly allows us to conduct an overall review of the realignment. We are doing our utmost to lessen the burden on people in Okinawa."
The Democratic Party of Japan had stipulated in its manifesto for the Lower House election that it "intends to review" the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan without limiting the review to Okinawa. However, the government, at a cabinet meeting on January 26, approved a written statement saying that it will "advance the transfer of the carrier-based aircraft in line with the road map."
(Originally published on January 30, 2010)
Related articles
Transfer of carrier-based aircraft to Iwakuni to be implemented as planned (Jan. 28, 2010)
