Japan voices regret over U.S. official’s alleged ‘extortion’ comments
Mar. 9, 2011
Japan on Tuesday expressed regret over alleged comments by a senior U.S. diplomat disparaging the people of Okinawa, and asked the United States to deal with the matter appropriately.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said in a news conference that he told U.S. Ambassador John Roos over the phone that the alleged comments by Kevin Maher to American University students before their trip to Okinawa, if true, were ''very inappropriate'' for someone in his capacity regardless of whether they were on or off the record, and conveyed his regret that a report of this kind had surfaced.
The anger in Japan's southern island prefecture, which hosts the bulk of U.S. forces in Japan, stems from remarks reportedly made by Maher, director of the Office of Japan Affairs at the U.S. State Department, who described local residents as ''masters of manipulation and extortion'' in reference to their negotiations with the central government.
At the press conference, Edano said he had told Roos the comments had hurt the feelings of the people of Okinawa and Japan believed they were ''hardly acceptable.''
Their 15-minute telephone talks came after the Okinawa prefectural and Naha city assemblies unanimously adopted resolutions seeking a retraction and apology. Other municipalities that host bases in Okinawa are expected to follow suit.
Prime Minister Naoto Kan told reporters that the comments, if true, were ''regrettable.''
Edano, who is temporarily doubling as foreign minister following the resignation of Seiji Maehara on Sunday, also said he had asked the U.S. envoy to implement measures ''taking into account the sentiments of Okinawa.''
Roos told Edano he regrets that the reported remarks greatly hurt the sentiments of the people of Okinawa, while stressing they were not reflective of the U.S. government's position.
Roos, who initiated the telephone talks, was also quoted by Edano as saying he will work in good faith to overcome the situation that has arisen as a result of the reported comments.
There was no discussion regarding the veracity of the reported comments, Edano said, adding that he believes appropriate steps will be taken by Roos and the State Department.
Apparently due to the furor over the alleged comments, Maher's planned visit to Tokyo for high-level bilateral talks on Thursday to discuss deepening Japan-U.S. ties has been cancelled, government sources said. It is rare for Maher to be absent during bilateral negotiations.
According to a written account of the lecture given by Maher, compiled by some of the students who attended, he said, ''Consensus building is important in Japanese culture. While the Japanese would call this 'consensus,' they mean 'extortion' and use this culture of consensus as a means of extortion.''
Maher, former consul general in Okinawa, is also said to have commented on his experience of negotiating with Japan over the controversial issue of relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station within the prefecture, which is fiercely opposed by local people. Maher is known to advocate the current relocation plan.
Maher has told Kyodo News that his briefing was an off-the-record event and the account made available to Kyodo News was ''neither accurate nor complete.'' He spoke in Washington on Dec. 3 at the request of American University to a group of 14 students.
Zenshin Takamine, chairman of the prefectural assembly, and other assembly representatives are expected to visit the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, possibly this week, to submit a letter of protest.
(Distributed by Kyodo News on March 8, 2011)
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said in a news conference that he told U.S. Ambassador John Roos over the phone that the alleged comments by Kevin Maher to American University students before their trip to Okinawa, if true, were ''very inappropriate'' for someone in his capacity regardless of whether they were on or off the record, and conveyed his regret that a report of this kind had surfaced.
The anger in Japan's southern island prefecture, which hosts the bulk of U.S. forces in Japan, stems from remarks reportedly made by Maher, director of the Office of Japan Affairs at the U.S. State Department, who described local residents as ''masters of manipulation and extortion'' in reference to their negotiations with the central government.
At the press conference, Edano said he had told Roos the comments had hurt the feelings of the people of Okinawa and Japan believed they were ''hardly acceptable.''
Their 15-minute telephone talks came after the Okinawa prefectural and Naha city assemblies unanimously adopted resolutions seeking a retraction and apology. Other municipalities that host bases in Okinawa are expected to follow suit.
Prime Minister Naoto Kan told reporters that the comments, if true, were ''regrettable.''
Edano, who is temporarily doubling as foreign minister following the resignation of Seiji Maehara on Sunday, also said he had asked the U.S. envoy to implement measures ''taking into account the sentiments of Okinawa.''
Roos told Edano he regrets that the reported remarks greatly hurt the sentiments of the people of Okinawa, while stressing they were not reflective of the U.S. government's position.
Roos, who initiated the telephone talks, was also quoted by Edano as saying he will work in good faith to overcome the situation that has arisen as a result of the reported comments.
There was no discussion regarding the veracity of the reported comments, Edano said, adding that he believes appropriate steps will be taken by Roos and the State Department.
Apparently due to the furor over the alleged comments, Maher's planned visit to Tokyo for high-level bilateral talks on Thursday to discuss deepening Japan-U.S. ties has been cancelled, government sources said. It is rare for Maher to be absent during bilateral negotiations.
According to a written account of the lecture given by Maher, compiled by some of the students who attended, he said, ''Consensus building is important in Japanese culture. While the Japanese would call this 'consensus,' they mean 'extortion' and use this culture of consensus as a means of extortion.''
Maher, former consul general in Okinawa, is also said to have commented on his experience of negotiating with Japan over the controversial issue of relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station within the prefecture, which is fiercely opposed by local people. Maher is known to advocate the current relocation plan.
Maher has told Kyodo News that his briefing was an off-the-record event and the account made available to Kyodo News was ''neither accurate nor complete.'' He spoke in Washington on Dec. 3 at the request of American University to a group of 14 students.
Zenshin Takamine, chairman of the prefectural assembly, and other assembly representatives are expected to visit the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, possibly this week, to submit a letter of protest.
(Distributed by Kyodo News on March 8, 2011)
