Don't allow U.S. to use Yokosuka as homeport for nuclear-powered aircraft carrier: JCP
Japanese Communist Party members of parliament on April 13 made representations to the Foreign Ministry demanding that the government refuse a U.S. plan to deploy a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier at the U.S. Yokosuka Naval Base in Kanagawa Prefecture.
In a written statement to Foreign Minister Kawaguchi Yoriko, the JCP representatives pointed out that the U.S. plan to replace the Kitty Hawk, a conventionally powered aircraft carrier stationed in Yokosuka, by a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in 2008 shows its intention to strengthen the Yokosuka base as a hub in wars it conducts anywhere in the world.
JCP House of Councilors member Hatano Kimie said, "The government should not allow the U.S. to use Yokosuka as its homeport for a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and should demand the return of the port."
A ministry official said that the U.S. has told the government that the deployment plan has not been decided yet. He added that the government will consider its response when the U.S. officially proposes the deployment.
At the U.S. Congress on March 31, the commander of the U.S. Pacific Command indicated a possible deployment of a state-of-the-art nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to Yokosuka base in 2008. (end)
